The Tanzania’s main opposition party Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) has given the government until September 21, 2024, to ensure that its leaders and members, along with all other citizens who have been abducted, are returned or their whereabouts made known and warned that if this is not addressed, they will take it to the streets.
Speaking in Dar es Salaam on September 11, 2024, CHADEMA Chairman Freeman Mbowe outlined three resolutions that the party has reached and urged the government to act on them to stop the ongoing abductions in the country.
“The first issue is that we are giving the government until Saturday, September 21, 2024, to tell us where our people, our members, and leaders are, and return them safely. If they are not safe, return their bodies, or tell us where they have been dumped,” said Mbowe.
He added, “I have announced that by September 21, 2024, we expect to see actions, such as the return of the abducted and the resignation of certain leaders. If no action is taken, from September 23, 2024, the whole city of Dar es Salaam, in every ward, every street, will rise up. “
“My people, we’ve been joking too often, but this time, there will be no joke. Starting Monday, September 23, 2024, we will take to the streets to demand the lives of our lost people unless the government takes immediate and deliberate steps to return them, have people resign, and hold everyone accountable.”
Although Mbowe had previously called for a judicial commission to be formed to ensure justice for cases of abductions and disappearance, he clarified that, given the current circumstances in Tanzania, external support is needed to conduct the investigation. The party proposed for Scotland Yard to be invited for the investigation.
“Now, after consultations with all leaders, we have agreed that the only people we trust to conduct a fair investigation in our country must be an international investigative body, and we have specifically recommended Scotland Yard , the UK police force to come and conduct this investigation.”
Mbowe also stressed that leaders of the country’s security institutions should resign, as the responsibility was placed in their hands, but they have failed to fulfill it, causing deaths and panic in the nation.
“We demand accountability, starting with the resignation of the Minister of Home Affairs (Engineer Masauni), who is responsible for the police force. We demand the resignation of the Chief of Police (IGP) Wambura, the resignation of DCI Kingai, and the resignation of the Director General of Internal Security (DGIS) Mombo.”
“They should resign for failing to manage these sensitive departments and turning them into propaganda arms of the ruling CCM party. Since Scotland Yard will conduct an impartial investigation without political interference, they will identify all those involved in this operation, and we will demand they be brought to justice and held accountable.”
On his part, CHADEMA Vice Chairman Tundu Antipas Lissu, speaking at the same meeting, stated that the police and other security agencies cannot investigate themselves.
“The security forces are the primary suspects—the police, the National Security Department headed by President Samia herself. The police are the main suspects; how can they investigate themselves? If you say the security forces should investigate, they can’t investigate themselves; they need to be investigated, cleaned out, and ensure we have real security officers, not thugs in uniform paid with public money.”
This comes just four days after the shocking incident of the abduction and brutal murder of a CHADEMA member and leader, Ali Kibao, who was buried on September 09, 2024 in Tanga Region, the incident has stirred many emotions.
