Dar es Salaam – For three months, anguish has been a constant companion for the families of nine young men who remain in custody at Segerea prison, accused of treason following the turbulent general election on October 29, 2025.
While over 1,700 others have been released, the fate of these nine hangs in the balance, prompting their parents to make a heartfelt appeal for presidential clemency.
“We beg Mama Samia to release our children,” said Sheila Mohamed Kapuna, the mother of Moh’d Steven Madeha, who was arrested at his home on election day. At the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court, where the case has been repeatedly postponed, Ms Kapuna described the immense strain of the situation.
“My health is not good,” she said. “I am supposed to go to the hospital, but I can’t. All the money I have, I end up sending to my child in Segerea [Prison, where her son is detained].”
The families’ ordeal stands in stark contrast to the relief experienced by hundreds of others. The initial crackdown after the election saw hundreds of people, some as young as 13, charged with serious offences. However, a subsequent presidential directive led to a wave of releases.
READ MORE: The Faces of ‘Treason’: Here Are the 466 Tanzanians Charged in Post-Election Crackdown
In a speech on November 14, 2025, President Samia instructed the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to review the cases, suggesting many of the youths had merely “followed the crowd.”
This resulted in the DPP progressively dropping charges against hundreds of individuals, including high-profile figures like social media influencer Jennifer ‘Niffer’ Jovin and activist Mika Chavala.
In a speech to diplomats on January 15, 2026, President Samia confirmed she had “pardoned 1,787 convicts” associated with the unrest, stating her administration was resolved to “repair, rebuild, and renew our nation.”
Yet, for the nine families left behind, the President’s words of reconciliation have not yet brought solace. Their sons, including Zakaria and Daudi Shine, who were arrested at their home in Dar es Salaam on November 5, 2025, remain incarcerated.
Their case has been adjourned until February 9, 2026, with the investigation reportedly still ongoing. The parents feel abandoned, claiming that even the lawyers who had agreed to help them are no longer taking their calls.
“We don’t even have a lawyer to defend us here now,” said Ms Kapuna, her voice filled with despair. “Are the nine who are left the only traitors? We are on our knees, begging for forgiveness for these children.”
