Dar es Salaam – A climate of fear has enveloped Tanzania following a violent state-led crackdown in the aftermath of the contested October 29 general election.
The security forces’ response to nationwide protests has resulted in allegations of hundreds of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, the silencing of online dissent, and widespread human rights abuses, leaving citizens in a state of anxiety and prompting a desperate search for those who remain missing.
The crackdown has intensified in recent days with a new wave of arrests targeting those critical of the government. On December 29, police in Mbeya arrested Clemence Kenani Mwandambo, a nursery school teacher, for allegedly publishing false information and insulting religious beliefs on social media.
This was Mr Mwandambo’s second arrest, having been previously detained and released on bail in early December for his social media criticism.
Mwandambo has gained significant popularity and influence among the Tanzanian community due to his ability to discuss various matters of public interest using language that resonates with the majority of Tanzanians.
He leverages social media, particularly TikTok, to spark debate on various issues that concern citizens. His videos, which are under two minutes long, spread across various online platforms, reaching thousands of people both inside and outside the country.
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In a separate incident on December 28, Thadey Sabinus Kweka, a Tanzanian activist based in the United States, was arrested in Moshi, Kilimanjaro region, on allegations of incitement. Mr Kweka had returned to the country for the holidays. His arrest, which police confirmed on December 29, followed social media reports that he had been abducted from his home by armed individuals.
These high-profile arrests have sent a chilling message to Tanzanians living abroad, with many now fearing arrest upon returning to the country for their past online criticisms of the government.
Citizens’ initiatives
Meanwhile, a desperate search continues for Nicodemus Julius Loyore, a young activist who was prominent in mobilising youth for the October 29 protests on TikTok. He was reportedly taken from his office on December 19 by individuals believed to be police officers, and his whereabouts remain unknown.
In the face of the state’s actions, ordinary citizens have launched initiatives to support the victims of the crackdown.
A fundraising campaign is underway to cover the medical expenses of individuals like Kuringe Sawere and Musa Ndile, who were allegedly tortured while in police custody, and Alex Mutembei and Martin Elia, who were shot during the October 29 protests and require urgent medical attention. As of December 29, the campaign had raised over Sh4.5 million.
The government’s handling of the crisis has drawn sharp criticism. Joseph Warioba, a respected former Prime Minister, broke his silence in a recent interview, condemning the excessive use of force by the police.
He suggested that the number of people killed might exceed the casualties of the Kagera War of 1978-79 and lamented that the country was now dominated by a climate of fear, with the police seemingly in control. “It is as if the leaders have abandoned persuasion and left the police to rule,” Mr Warioba stated.
International human rights organisations have echoed these concerns. A December 19 report by Amnesty International documented the use of “unlawful lethal force” by security forces, who, the organisation alleges, fired live ammunition into crowds of protesters and bystanders.
The report also detailed how security forces took bodies from mortuaries to unknown locations, preventing families from burying their loved ones.
United Nations human rights experts have also condemned the “widespread and systematic human rights violations,” citing allegations of at least 700 extrajudicial killings and over 1,700 arbitrary detentions.
Looming reforms
The protests on October 29, described as the largest in the country’s history, were sparked by the disqualification of opposition candidates from the election and broader frustrations over economic hardship and a perceived decline in democratic freedoms.
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The government responded with a complete internet shutdown that lasted for several days and a curfew. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who was declared the winner of the election with an unprecedented 97.6 per cent of the vote, has defended the actions of the security forces, describing the protests as “organised riots” and the force used as “proportional.”
In response to the growing criticism, the government has announced plans to reform the police force. Minister for Home Affairs, George Simbachawene, stated recently that President Samia has directed a major overhaul of the law enforcement agency, aiming to transform it from a “force” to a “service.”
The reforms will be guided by the recommendations of a commission established in January 2023 to review the criminal justice system. However, critics remain sceptical, calling for independent and transparent investigations into the recent wave of violence and for those responsible to be held accountable.
