Dar es Salaam – Treason charges against celebrity businesswoman Jennifer Jovin, known as ‘Niffer,’ and activist Mika Chavala have been dropped by the Tanzanian government. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) informed the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday that the State did not intend to proceed with the case against the pair.
The release of Niffer and Chavala, who had faced a potential death penalty if convicted of treason under Tanzanian law, is part of a wider government initiative. This move follows a Presidential directive issued by President Samia Suluhu Hassan on November 18, 2025, who instructed the DPP to review the cases.
The President, acting in her capacity as a “mother and guardian,” noted that many of the arrested youths—some facing serious offences—may have simply “followed the crowd” or did not fully understand their actions.
Minister of Constitution and Legal Affairs, Juma Homera, announced on November 26, 2025, that charges had been dropped against 607 individuals up to the previous day. This massive discharge is continuing, with a total of 1,736 suspects expected to be released out of the 2,045 people arrested nationwide following the demonstrations.
Niffer (26) and Chavala (32) were among hundreds of youths charged with inciting the large-scale protests that occurred on October 29, 2025, which was the day of the country’s General Election.
READ MORE: 607 Freed: Tanzania Drops Charges for Youths in Post-Election Unrest, Targeting 1,736 Total
The demonstrations were unprecedented in scale and were driven by public grievances, including political exclusion, harsh living conditions, and deteriorating security. The protests were met with a heavy-handed response, resulting in hundreds of youth fatalities and numerous injuries after security organs employed excessive force.
Niffer, a prominent cosmetics businesswoman and influential figure on Instagram, was detained on October 28, 2025. Her arrest came shortly after she participated in a social media ‘challenge’ featuring a beat of President Samia’s words dismissing the prospect of demonstrations.
Her detention caused the challenge to go viral globally, with users expressing solidarity with her entrepreneurial spirit
Chavala, an activist known for advocating for a single, unified One Africa (Afrika Moja), was arrested on Election Day, October 29. Prior to his arrest, he had published a video on Instagram showing him joining the protestors, arguing that the dire state of life for many young Tanzanians and Africans left them with “no other options but to rise up.”
The two youths had spent approximately one month in custody. Scenes outside the court following their release were marked by joy, as family members celebrated their relatives’ freedom. Both Niffer and Chavala publicly expressed their gratitude to all who had advocated on their behalf during their detention.
