Dar es Salaam – The Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) has publicly condemned what it describes as the “harassment and intimidation” of its staff by Tanzanian police, following a security incident at a Dar es Salaam hotel.
In a public statement dated November 13, 2025, the prominent human rights organisation reported that on the evening of November 12, its team was subjected to a siege at the White Sands Hotel.
Police reportedly confiscated laptops, mobile phones, and identification cards from the staff, who were engaged in what the LHRC termed “routine work.”
The staff were instructed to report to the Dar es Salaam Zonal Crimes Office (ZCO) the following morning for interviews. The LHRC confirmed that its team complied with the order and that all devices were later returned without condition.
However, the centre expressed deep concern that it “cannot confirm the security and integrity of the laptops and phones,” implying that the equipment may have been tampered with while in police custody.
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The incident has escalated tensions between civil society and state authorities in Tanzania. The LHRC directly linked the event to a wider pattern of police behaviour, stating it occurred “at a time when the Tanzania Police Force has been associated with unnecessary and excessive use of force and intimidation.”
This allegation comes amidst a turbulent political climate, just days after LHRC, alongside other civil society organisations, issued a joint statement on November 7 condemning the “gross human rights violations” surrounding the October 29 election.
The elections were accompanied by nationwide protests, an internet shutdown, and deadly post-election violence.
The group cited killings of unarmed civilians, arbitrary arrests, and the confirmed deaths of at least two journalists: Master Tindwa of Clouds Media, killed at his home in Temeke, and Kelvin Lameck Mwakangondya of Baraka FM, killed while on duty in Mbeya on October 29. The statement also highlighted the arrest of approximately 312 people in the Kilimanjaro region alone.
In its statement, the LHRC, an organisation well-known for its work on legal and human rights advocacy since 1995, firmly stated it does “not claim to be above the law.” Nevertheless, it “strongly condemn[ed] the abuse of police power, which has reached alarming proportions.”
Reiterating its commitment to its mandate, the centre called upon Tanzanian authorities to operate strictly within the law to guarantee the safety of all individuals, including those engaged in civic work.
As of the time of writing, the Tanzania Police Force has not issued a public response to the LHRC’s allegations.
