Tanzania Police Force in Arusha have confirmed the arrest of Gasper Temba, 30, the Chairman of CHADEMA’s Youth Wing (BAVICHA) for the Northern Zone, following widespread fears that he had been abducted.
Temba was taken into custody on Saturday, August 30, 2025, according to a statement released by the Arusha Regional Police. His arrest came after senior CHADEMA leaders raised alarm that he had been seized by unknown individuals in plain clothes while walking in Arusha town.
Arusha Regional Police Commander, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Justine Masejo, clarified that Temba was apprehended over forgery allegations, with the case initially filed in Dar es Salaam. He emphasized that the arrest was conducted lawfully and that further legal procedures are underway.
Before the official police statement, CHADEMA’s Northern Zone Chairman, Advocate Samwel Welwel, had expressed concern that the manner in which Temba was taken mirrored previous cases where opposition leaders were abducted and never resurfaced.
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According to CHADEMA officials, Temba was being trailed by men in plain clothes driving a private vehicle. When they attempted to arrest him, he fled into a nearby bank but was eventually caught and forced into the vehicle.
“We have videos of the incident,” said Welwel. “The way he was taken does not suggest they wanted to bring him before a court of law—it looks like an abduction.”
The Police, however, have warned against spreading unverified information on social media, stressing that such reports could cause unnecessary panic among the public.
