Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on October 9, 2025.
CCM Presidential Candidate Samia Suluhu Hassan Continues Lake Zone Campaigns as Wasira Warns Citizens Against ‘Online Misinformation’
CCM’s presidential candidate and incumbent president of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, on Thursday continued her campaign tour of the Lake Zone regions, visiting Simiyu and Mara, where she reiterated that her party has consistently fulfilled the promises it has made to Tanzanians.
Speaking at Lamadi township in Simiyu Region before proceeding to Mara, President Samia expressed confidence as she sought re-election, stating that the ruling party had implemented its 2020–2025 election manifesto by about 97 percent. She highlighted key achievements in areas such as water access, infrastructure development, healthcare facilities, and road construction.
“We are coming with a new manifesto, and we are confident that, with God’s help, we will implement it just as we have successfully done with this one,” said Samia.
So far, the CCM flag bearer has held campaign rallies in more than 20 regions across Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. At Lamadi, she emphasized that leadership requires experience, something she said CCM possesses in abundance.
During the same campaign trail, several CCM stalwarts underscored that the forthcoming October 29 elections would be conducted peacefully.
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Opposition Members Vanish in Wave of Alleged Abductions as Tension Grows Ahead of Election in Tanzania
Thirteen CHADEMA members and supporters have been reported to have disappeared in nine days, with the party documenting a pattern of abductions by armed men using unmarked white Land Cruiser vehicles across multiple regions of the country.
The disappearances, occurring between October 1 and October 9, have intensified political tensions just weeks before the October 29 general election. CHADEMA officials report that those taken include ward chairpersons and constituency level leaders, with families describing scenes of forced entry and violence.
The incidents span from Busega district in Simiyu to Njombe in the southern highlands, suggesting a coordinated operation targeting opposition figures nationwide. Police have confirmed receiving some reports and opening an investigation, but have not commented on the other cases.
The documented disappearances began on October 1 when Lobezi Kulilo Masanyiwa, a CHADEMA Executive Committee member in Busega district, in Simiyu, was taken at gunpoint from his workplace by masked men.
Two days later, the pace accelerated in the Ikungi area of the Singida region. Issa Hamisi Kaudo, a CHADEMA Ward Chairperson, received a phone call that lured him outside, where he was forced into a Land Cruiser. A local media reported a response from Ikungi District Commissioner, Thomas Apson who told the outlet that, they have assured the family not to worry, “the government is at work. We continue to cooperate with our counterparts from other agencies to ensure that we find him.”
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Prosecution’s Cyber Expert Takes Stand as Lissu Treason Trial Enters Technical Phase
The treason trial of CHADEMA national chairperson Tundu Lissu took a technical turn on Thursday as the prosecution presented its second witness, a police cybercrime expert, whose testimony was repeatedly interrupted by legal wrangling and culminated in a dramatic offer from the accused to provide the court with a book he authored on election integrity.
Inspector John Kaaya, an officer attached to the online patrol desk, took the stand to detail how he discovered and archived the YouTube video that forms the core of the state’s case. Meanwhile, Mr Lissu, representing himself, continued to challenge the relevance of the evidence presented.
Led by State Attorney Job Mrema, Inspector Kaaya detailed his duties, which involve patrolling social media platforms like X, TikTok, and Instagram to identify criminal content. He testified that on April 4, 2025, during his shift, he came across a live stream on Jambo TV’s YouTube channel titled TUNDU LISSU USO KWA USO NA WATIA NIA MAJIMBONI. NO REFORMS NO ELECTION.
Kaaya stated that the high viewership and comment count prompted him to watch the video, where he allegedly identified statements with “indicators of criminality.” He cited Lissu’s remarks about police carrying “sacks of fake ballots” and judges being “people of the President” and “Ma-CCM” who seek promotions:
Kaaya: “When he said ‘in the courts, nothing is happening.’ I saw that the information had indicators of criminality. Informing the public that ‘nothing is happening’ is giving false information to the public and threatening the government.”
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