On Friday, August 16, 2024, activist Deusdedith Soka gave what would be his last media interview before his abduction two days later. Speaking with Lukelo Francis, a journalist from The Chanzo, Soka revealed that his life was in danger, but he had limited options to protect himself.
“They even want to take our lives too, so we are saying, you’ve taken everything, so please don’t abduct us or hurt us, just let us live our lives. They are taking us one by one like hawks snatching chickens,” Soka lamented in an interview.
“Let us live, let us see our loved ones, let us be happy, and let us have our rights. These are rights that are enshrined in our constitution, but they are also international rights—the right to live, the basic right to life,” Soka added in an interview that was almost postponed to August 20, due to precautionary measures Soka was taking.
WATCH: Documentary: Who Has Abducted and Forcibly Disappeared These Tanzanians?
Soka, an orphan raised by his grandmother and uncle Cyprian Soka after losing his parents at a young age, had faced several arrests in the past and even survived an attack at his home. After being arrested on August 10 and released alongside other CHADEMA members, he confided in friends and colleagues that a Good Samaritan had warned him his life was in danger and that this time, he might not survive if abducted.
In the interview with The Chanzo, Soka went into great length talking about the planned demonstration on August 26, 2024, where the activist and his fellow youth members were planning a demonstration against abductions and to demand a new constitution.
“We can’t live in a nation where abductions are a usual phenomenon,” argued Soka, when asked about his safety he responded, “There are threats aimed at harming me because of my activism, but since everything I do is by the law and I am fighting for my country, I will continue to persevere.”
The Chanzo spoke to one of Soka’s friends, Freddie Justine who is also a CHADEMA member where he explained that Soka was frightened about imminent abduction and they were exploring options as friends on how they can help each other in the difficult moment.
“I spoke with Soka before he came to your office for the interview, and we spoke afterward when he finished.He was terrified of the dangers surrounding him, threats were on a level never seen before,” said Justine.
On August 13, 2024, Soka wrote on his X account that his life was in danger. “The truth that I will make clear before God, my activist friends, my fellow leaders, my brothers, relatives, friends, and everyone around the world, according to the information I have received, there is a plan to harm me and make me disappear completely from this world,” said Soka.
He added: “They have already started the first step, which is to identify me by my face and where I live. The next stage will be to quietly capture me and make me disappear. The reason is because I am radical. I encourage the youth, our God is alive and lives forever. If it happens, do not cry or be saddened, but let it give us the courage to fight and reject betrayal.”
CHADEMA’s Northern Zone Chairperson, Godbless Lema, also recounted on X how Soka sought advice from him regarding the threats. Before Lema could respond, he learned that Soka had been kidnapped
Deusdedith Soka was abducted on August 18, 2024, in the Buza area, along with two colleagues, Jacob Godwin Mlay and Frank Mbise. Soka and Mlay were both leaders of the opposition party CHADEMA in Temeke, while Mbise was a commercial motorcycle driver who worked for Soka.
On the day of the abduction, Soka had been called to check on his stolen motorcycle at the Chang’ombe Police Station. CHADEMA Chairperson Freeman Mbowe later described this as a ploy to lure Soka into a trap where he was the main target. As a precaution, Soka asked Mlay and his business partner to accompany him.
In their August 22, 2024 press, CHADEMA said the trio was abducted by a special police task force that operates in the shadows, CHADEMA said the task force doesn’t adhere to the police code or even the law in its totality. The Chanzo sought comment from the Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander, Jumanne Muliro, about this allegation but received no response.
On August 28, 2024, the High Court said that there was no evidence that the Police were holding Soka and his three colleagues in a petition filed by lawyers Paul Kisabo, Peter Madeleka, and Deogratius Mahinyila to demand the police produce Soka.
In his ruling, Judge Wilfred Dyansobera stated that he used his regulatory authority to grant additional reliefs as requested by the petitioners, allowing the court to provide other suitable remedies.
“Considering these factors and the court’s authority under the 1930 Rules, I am directing the first to the fifth respondents to investigate the whereabouts of the petitioners,” the judge ordered. “Therefore, the police must fulfill their duty to investigate where these three petitioners are located. The petitioners’ requests are granted in the manner I have outlined,” Judge Dyansobera ruled.
