The prolonged enforced disappearance of Deusdedith Soka and his colleagues, Jacob Mlay and Frank Mbise, now lasting five months, raises deep concerns. Their disappearance in Dar es Salaam, following a call from the Temeke Police asking Soka to retrieve his motorcade, which had been confiscated, leaves many unanswered questions.
This unsettling ordeal not only raises concerns but also deeply impacts their families, who are yearning for answers and resolution. It also prompts an examination of our security: who is considered safe, and how confident can we be regarding our safety?
Soka is a distinguished young human rights defender and political activist whose commitment to justice led him to organise demonstrations against maladministration. Notably, on June 19, 2023, the police in Dar es Salaam obstructed his protest to demand the revocation of a dodgy port trade deal between Tanzania and a UAE-based logistics company, DP World.
Yet, a determined group of young people showed up to the protest in solidarity with Soka. Several protestors were arrested and detained, with Soka being part of the courageous group that stood up for their rights.
In August 2024, Soka was again arrested and detained in Dar es Salaam in anticipation of a major ‘International Youth Day’ commemoration in Mbeya, Tanzania. The event was set to unite youth political activists and members of the main opposition political party, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA).
An alarming escalation of police malpractice occurred when nearly 500 youths who had travelled from across the country to gather in Mbeya were unjustly detained in various police cells across the country. Arbitrary directives were issued to prevent them from convening in Mbeya, with many being blocked from even entering the city.
Prominent CHADEMA leaders travelled to Mbeya to support the youth in their major commemoration. However, they faced a harsh reality as they were arrested upon arrival at Songwe airport in Mbeya. Disturbingly, they endured beatings and torture while under detention.
Such an aggressive response to a legitimate gathering raises serious questions about the rights of individuals to assemble and voice their concerns, and it cannot be overlooked.
Soka and his colleagues detained in Dar es Salaam were released after over 24 hours. But Soka was cautioned by the police to remain vigilant. Given his outspoken nature, his safety was at stake, per information availed to him by the police.
Undeterred
Undeterred, Soka took to Twitter, now X, on August 13, 2024, to assert his stance, declaring that he had nothing to fear but fear itself. He made it clear that should he encounter any trouble, only the police would be held accountable.
Soka did not go to bed. He vowed to call for another protest in Dar es Salaam against abductions and enforced disappearances. He told the public that he would run a peaceful protest to express disgruntlement with the view to garnering government response and an end to such worrying trends.
A few days before the planned protest, reports concerning Soka’s abduction in Dar es Salaam appeared in the headlines. It was alleged that Soka was abducted as part of a plan involving the police from Temeke, who had contacted him to retrieve his motorcade, which was in their possession.
Soka was abducted together with Mlay and Mbise, whom he had asked to accompany him to the Police to collect his motorcade.
Days after their abduction, Soka’s mobile number sent a message to one of his colleagues stating, “He was out of the country and would return after the local government polls” scheduled for November 2024. The message was delivered through a conventional mobile messaging channel, indicating that the sender was present within the vicinity of Dar es Salaam.
This came to light while Soka was firmly detained by the police. The police, in my opinion, were attempting to create an impression that Soka was missing by his own choice, suggesting they should not be involved. These kinds of reckless plays on people’s lives deserve proper scrutiny! If it was true that he left and would come back, he could be traceable, or at least his colleagues could be reached.
Efforts to litigate Soka’s disappearance faced a setback in the High Court. The Judge dismissed the habeas application. The Court confidently determined that the petitioners failed to convincingly establish that the police were the ones holding Soka and his colleagues.
READ MORE: Pressure Mounts Over the Fate of Missing Activist Deusdedith Soka and His Two Colleagues
Without issuing an ultimatum, the presiding Judge recommended that law enforcement authorities take steps to locate Soka and his associates. This approach to the administration of criminal justice raises concerns regarding the boldness of the judiciary to diligently guard rights.
A functional court would not rest upon examining the face of the habeas application. In contrast, it would have proactively investigated the broader circumstances surrounding Soka’s disappearance. Analysing the last known activity on his mobile devices, for instance, could have led to significant breakthroughs in the case.
Needed
One effective strategy for identifying potential suspects would be to track a police officer who contacted Soka to schedule the pickup of his motorcade. Equally, analysing the time when the message was sent to Soka’s colleague regarding his possible ‘exit’ from the country and the location.
Furthermore, the established link to the Temeke Police Station should have prompted the court to engage in rigorous cross-examinations of suspects, uncovering the underlying motives behind Soka’s ordeal.
Soka’s tweets regarding being cautioned to ‘watch out’ following his release from detention indicated the need for a thorough inquiry into the police’s actions. However, the Courts seemed to operate predominantly in a manner that serves the interests of the government.
In this instance, the government had intended to ensure that Soka was silenced—an objective they had actively pursued for some time. The Court did not take a human rights-based approach to pursuing Soka’s release from captivity.
During Soka’s disappearance chronicles, 21-year-old Shadrack Chaula, a TikToker who created a drawing resembling President Samia Suluhu and set it ablaze, went missing. Chaula, who was previously convicted for allegedly publishing false information while extinguishing an image resembling the President, garnered public sympathy. Many rallied to pay his fine, recognising that jailing him for such a petty account was unjust.
Chaula’s release from jail should have been a relief, but instead, it has turned into a haunting memory as he vanished from view just a few days later, leaving behind a world that felt both familiar and alien. His absence serves as a stark reminder of the fragile nature of freedom, overshadowed by mysterious circumstances that raise questions about law enforcement’s potential involvement.
This chilling possibility deepens the sorrow for his loved ones and the community, who now grapple with anxiety and despair, wondering how a vibrant young man of just 21 could fall prey to an oppressive regime.
Unspoken fears
Like Soka and his colleagues, Chaula’s silent suffering resonates with the unspoken fears of many who dare to oppose injustice or share opinions the powers that be disapprove of, transforming their ordeal into a painful symbol of the struggles faced by those yearning for freedom. In their absence, the people are left to confront their own unease, increasingly aware of the risks associated with raising their voices against a regime unafraid to silence dissent.
In Sumbawanga, Dioniz Kipanya has been missing for over six months, and his abduction weighs heavily on our hearts. As a devoted CHADEMA youth leaguer, his criticism of a more than 100-car convoy during President Samia’s visit to southern Tanzania on X marked a brave moment that has since turned tragic.
It is painful to acknowledge that, despite his courage, we still cannot establish Kipanya’s whereabouts, leaving his loved ones and the community at large in anguish and uncertainty.
In July, another CHADEMA youth leaguer, Mbwana Twaha Kombo, was reported missing but was later found detained by the police for over a month in the Tanga region. He was eventually brought to court, facing charges of possessing a mobile phone number that was not registered in his name.
Despite the circumstances, Kombo was denied bail and spent an additional month in prison. Although he was ultimately released, there has been no accountability for the illegal detention and torture, as well as the inhumane treatment he endured during his time in custody.
An outrageous incident arbitrarily claimed the life of Ali Mohammed Kibao, a senior CHADEMA strategist. 69-year-old Kibao was snatched out of the bus in Dar es Salaam in September 2024. He went missing for several hours, only to be found killed and abandoned near the shores of the Indian Ocean in Dar es Salaam. Kibao’s face was disfigured by acid. It is apparent that he endured torture and degrading and inhumane treatment prior to his brutal and untimely extra-judicial murder.
Although President Samia ordered a prompt inquiry into Kibao’s matter and that a report be presented to her, the public thirsts for updates on what transpired afterwards. From the outcries for justice from Kibao’s family, it is evident that no investigation has occurred, let alone worries that no one will be held to account.
READ MORE: Tanzania: Hopes for Free and Fair Elections Dwindle As President Samia’s Promised Reforms Hit a Snag
It is truly heartbreaking to see that there has been no investigation into the September 2017 failed assassination of Senior Counsel Tundu Lissu. The absence of answers regarding the prolonged disappearance of political activist Ben Saanane since 2016, as well as journalist Azory Gwanda and CCM member Simon Kanguye, who have been missing since 2017, weighs heavily on our hearts.
The ordeal of Edgar Edson Mwakabela, famously known as Sativa, who was abducted and tortured in June 2024, adds to the tragic narrative of injustice and despair in Tanzania. There have been numerous documented incidents of enforced disappearances reported by human rights organisations in the country, with significant contributions from the Legal and Human Rights Centre in their annual reports, including the one that involved opposition ACT Wazalendo youth leader Abdu Nondo.
In September 2024, the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), the Bar Association of Tanzania Mainland, unveiled an alarming list of around 83 individuals who have been abducted, gone missing, or subjected to extrajudicial killings. It is incredibly disheartening that these individuals and their loved ones are still waiting for justice and closure. They deserve answers and accountability, and we must keep their stories alive.
Dysfunction
The current trend of diminished accountability highlights a significant dysfunction within our oversight mechanisms, including the Judiciary, Parliament, and the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance. These institutions have failed to take meaningful action to address incidents of abduction and enforced disappearances.
How can we stand by and accept this horrifying reality? Every day, more people vanish without a trace, yet their stories never make it to the headlines! It is infuriating to see our country descending into a dark landscape of abductions and lost lives.
We should ask ourselves: What has happened to our sense of community, humanity, and the brotherhood we once shared and were known for as Tanzanians? We cannot let fear and insecurity define us. We demand justice! We demand accountability! Every life matters, and we need to come together to fight back against this wave of violence and despair!
The United Republic of Tanzania’s Constitution guarantees every individual the right to live as a free person (Article 15) and the right to life and personal security (Article 14). The concept of personal security is based on the understanding that society, and by extension, the government, must ensure that all citizens are protected from the arbitrary deprivation of life.
I am deeply saddened that the provisions of the Constitution have become ineffective in the face of rising incidents of enforced disappearances in Tanzania. It is bewildering to see that these disappearances appear to be systemic, with a clear focus on targeting specific demographics of members of the opposition and youth activists.
We often attribute this issue to the lack of a robust and comprehensive criminal justice system that should ensure justice for all. However, it ultimately boils down to the reality that the government, as the primary instigator, is responsible for implementing these necessary reforms.
To firmly support my perspective, it has been over two years since the Presidential Commission on Criminal Justice Reforms delivered its report to the President. Yet, we have seen no action taken despite the report containing several progressive proposals. This inaction highlights a clear lack of political will to implement reforms that could significantly enhance accountability and safeguard the rights of individuals.
It feels like we are trapped in this never-ending cycle of despair. It is heartbreaking to see how we have become so disconnected, unable to support one another in times of need. I cannot shake the feeling that we are lost, struggling in silence and that the bonds that once held us together are fraying. The weight of it all is overwhelming, and I cannot help but wonder if we are destined to fail as a society.
Dear Soka and your colleagues, Mzee Kibao, and all those whose souls and blood remain unaccounted for, I want to express my deep regret that our society has failed you. It is disheartening that a simple act of protest to seek justice for yourselves and your families is seen as too costly by our self-serving attitudes.
I truly hope that one day, justice will come to light for you all!
Tito Magoti is a lawyer and human rights activist. He’s available at titomagoti@gmail.com or on X as @TitoMagoti. The opinions expressed here are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Chanzo. If you are interested in publishing in this space, please contact our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.
