Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on November 24, 2025
Treason Charges Dropped Against Hundreds of Tanzanian Youths Following Presidential Directive
In a move triggering emotional scenes across the country, the Tanzanian Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) informed various courts on Monday, November 24, 2025, that the state would no longer pursue charges against scores of youths implicated in the unrest that followed the general election last month.
The decision has led to the immediate release of many young detainees from remand, allowing them to reunite with their families.
Reports from judicial centres nationwide indicated that the DPP filed notices of nolle prosequi in numerous cases, effectively halting the prosecutions. Video and photographic evidence from court precincts showed families reacting with overwhelming emotion, with many heard weeping aloud and giving thanks.
In the commercial capital of Dar es Salaam, 47 out of 48 youths facing treason charges for the October 29 disturbances were set free. However, one individual, Naslin Lawrence Mkangala, alias Luponzi, remains in custody until December 8 for mention due to ongoing investigations into the accusations against him.
Similar mass withdrawals of charges were reported in other major cities. In Mwanza, 63 suspects linked to the Nyamagana district unrest were released, followed by another 76 in the Ilemela District, after the prosecution notified the court of its intention not to proceed.
Continue reading here
Tanganyika Law Society Sues Tanzanian Government Over Post-Election Curfew
The Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), the mainland’s bar association, has filed a landmark constitutional petition against the Tanzanian government, challenging the legality of a controversial five-day curfew imposed in Dar es Salaam following the contested October 29, 2025, General Election.
The TLS, led by President Boniface Mwabukusi, filed the originating summons at the High Court, naming the Inspector General of Police (IGP) as the First Respondent, alongside the Attorney General and the Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRGG). The case, which is expected to address issues of mass human rights violations, is slated to be heard by Judge Elizabeth Mkwizu.
The core of the legal challenge is the claim that the order, issued by the IGP on October 29, 2025, at 5:00 PM and revoked by President Samia Suluhu Hassan on November 3, 2025, was issued without any backing of the law and effectively usurped the President’s powers to declare a State of Emergency.
The petition alleges that the curfew—which commanded residents to be indoors by 6:00 PM for what was vaguely termed a “Special Duty” (Kazi Maalumu)—did not legally constitute a curfew and was implemented across the country despite being officially limited to Dar es Salaam.
Human rights violations
In its submission, the TLS documents several grave consequences of the security crackdown. Crucially, the petition asserts that the enforcement of the order resulted in the death of a member of the legal profession, Advocate Peter Elibariki Makundi, who was allegedly killed by police officers between 6:30 PM and 8:00 PM.
Continue reading here
Tanzanian Government Lifts Ban on Glory of Christ Tanzania Church After Six Months
The Tanzanian government has formally lifted the suspension on the Glory of Christ Tanzania Church (Kanisa la Ufufuo na Uzima), effective immediately, following a directive issued by Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba on Monday, November 24, 2025.
The Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Home Affairs to cease the closure of the Dar es Salaam-based megachurch, criticising the policy of penalising thousands of worshippers for the alleged political actions of their leader, Bishop Josephat Gwajima.
Speaking during an event in Dar es Salaam, Mr Nchemba, who was appointed to the premiership earlier in November 2025, stressed that worship is a deeply personal, constitutional right.
“Worship is a relationship between a human being and their God, not their bishops or sheikhs,” Mr Nchemba stated. “It is not right to burden the faithful with the mistakes of their religious leader, nor to deny them their worship and fellowship with God.”
The order overturns the Registrar of Societies’ decision of June 2, 2025, which had revoked the church’s registration. While the church, with its reported 70,000 members and thousands of branches, is now permitted to resume operations, it will be placed under six months of official supervision.
Continue reading here
Thabo Mbeki Foundation Calls for ‘Sovereign National Dialogue’ Amid Tanzania Legitimacy Crisis
The Thabo Mbeki Foundation (TMF) has issued a stinging condemnation of the October 29, 2025, General Election in Tanzania, concluding that the nation currently “lacks a legitimate government” and declaring that only an “honest, inclusive, and sovereign national dialogue” can halt the country’s slide into political instability.
In a statement released on November 23, 2025, the Foundation, dedicated to Africa’s Renaissance, asserted that the Presidential and Parliamentary results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were “not a true reflection of the will of the Tanzanian people.”
This judgment echoes the findings of Election Observer Missions (EOMs) from regional bodies, including the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU), both of which determined that the election fell short of established democratic principles and international standards.
The TMF statement—released following “deep and pained reflection” —extended condolences to families who lost loved ones during the post-election violence and noted persistent, disturbing reports of systematic violence, including abductions and murders, against opponents of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.
The Foundation’s call for dialogue places it in alignment with domestic and international voices seeking a comprehensive resolution, but it highlights a fundamental cleavage between the government and the opposition over the path to reconciliation.
Continue reading here
This is it for today, and we hope you enjoyed our briefing. Please consider subscribing to our newsletter (see left), following us on X (Twitter) (here), or you can support us (here). And if you have any questions or comments, please drop a word to our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.
