Armed Forces Issues Second Statement in 11 Days, Warns Against Social Media Misinformation
The Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) issued its second public statement in 11 days on Thursday, assuring Tanzanians that the country remains peaceful and secure while warning against social media posts attempting to drag the military into politics ahead of the October 29 general election.
The statement comes as tensions mount over planned protests scheduled for election day, with some groups calling for demonstrations to prevent the polls from taking place. TPDF complained about individuals it described as “activists” from within and outside the country using social media to mislead the public, “by posting inflammatory content involving the Army in politics to achieve their goal of disrupting peace.”
“The Army requests the Tanzanian public to ignore posts or information that have been appearing on social media,” said the TPDF statement, signed by Colonel Bernard Masala Ullunga, Acting Director of Information and Relations. “Citizens are reminded that all information concerning the Army will be issued by Army Headquarters through official military communication channels.”
This marks the second time in less than two weeks that TPDF has felt compelled to issue a public clarification, following an October 4 statement that responded to a viral video by someone identifying himself as a military officer calling for army intervention in government.
Mounting political tensions
The military’s renewed statement comes against a backdrop of mounting political tensions, with major opposition parties sidelined in the October 29 election. CHADEMA, the main opposition party, announced it would not participate, maintaining its No Reforms, No Election position that demands fundamental legal and constitutional changes before Tanzania can conduct free and fair elections.
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Lissu’s Treason Trial Shifts to Technical Evidence as Third Police Witness Takes Stand
The treason trial of CHADEMA national chairperson Tundu Lissu pivoted from political confrontation to complex forensic testimony on Thursday, as the prosecution presented a third police witness—a digital forensics expert—following the completion of a cross-examination that left the previous state witness visibly exhausted.
The day’s proceedings saw the dramatic exit of Inspector John Kaaya and the entrance of a new witness who began detailing a highly technical process for analyzing the video evidence at the heart of the case.
The session began with Mr Lissu concluding his cross-examination of Inspector Kaaya. In a final series of questions, Lissu pressed the witness on his claim that the controversial video contained “300 comments,” asking if he had provided any evidence to substantiate this number. The Inspector admitted he had not.
Lissu then systematically questioned Kaaya about his knowledge of Tanzania’s electoral history, citing specific instances where thousands of opposition candidates were disqualified from local and parliamentary elections in 2019 and 2020.
He referenced reports from international observer missions, including the African Union, European Union, and Commonwealth, that have criticised the disqualification of opposition candidates.
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Police Launch Investigation After Four Bodies Found in Kibaha, Pwani Region
Police in Kibaha, Pwani region, said Thursday that it has opened an investigation into the deaths of four young men whose bodies were discovered in the district earlier this week.
In a statement, police said their officers were alerted to the incident on October 16, 2025, by the chairperson of the Kidimu Street government, who indicated that four unidentified bodies had been found in the Kidimu-Vingunguti area, alongside the road from Mapinga to Kibaha.
A team of police officers and specialists in major incidents was dispatched to the scene. The statement detailed that the bodies were of four young men, estimated to be between 19 and 22 years of age, and that they had sustained injuries to their faces and legs.
The bodies were transferred to Tumbi Referral Hospital for further examination. During the initial investigation, relatives came forward and were able to identify the deceased.
They have been named as Mikidadi Abbas Mikidadi, 21, and Hassan Juma Jumanne, 21, both bodaboda drivers from Tabata Chang’ombe, Dar es Salaam. The others are Fadhili Patrick Hiyola, 19, a bodaboda operator from Vingunguti Miembeni, Dar es Salaam, and Abdalla Fadhil Nyanga, 21, a bajaji driver from Kisukuru Tabata, Dar es Salaam.
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