Tanga – Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has acknowledged that Tanzania is grappling with a significant abduction problem and has ordered local authorities to protect citizens who speak out, marking a rare public admission of a crisis that has gripped the nation for years now.
The prime minister’s statement on February 16, 2026, in Muheza, Tanga, came in response to a plea from a local official who expressed fear for his life after being threatened by a district commissioner.
Erasto, the chairperson of Machemba sub-village, attributed the threat to his exposing of illegal logging in his community.
“It is true we have a problem of this kind in the country,” Mr Nchemba conceded, before publicly instructing the official to ensure the man’s safety. “When people speak like this, protect them from threats,” he declared. “You will be protected. You are safe.”
This public acknowledgement represents a significant departure from the government’s previous stance of denial and opacity.
For sometime now, Tanzania has been gripped by a wave of abductions, disappearances, and killings targeting government critics, opposition figures, activists, and ordinary citizens.
The pattern has been particularly acute around election periods, with a notable escalation in the lead-up to the October 2025 general election.
READ MORE: The Silent Wave of Fear: Abductions, Disappearances, and Killings of Govt Critics in Tanzania
In the nine days preceding October 9, 2025, at least 13 members of the main opposition party, CHADEMA, vanished without trace. Armed men in unmarked white Land Cruiser vehicles abducted the opposition members across multiple regions of the country, including Busega in Simiyu, Ikungi in Singida, Morogoro, Njombe, and Kahama in Shinyanga.
The victims included ward chairpersons and constituency-level leaders, with families describing scenes of forced entry and violence. CHADEMA’s deputy chairperson John Heche demanded accountability, stating that the party had documented “nearly 15 people in 11 consecutive days” disappearing under similar circumstances.
The abductions are not limited to political figures. The recent disappearance of Father Peter Rwezahura, a Catholic priest who has been missing for over six months, highlights a broader pattern of missing persons that has instilled fear across society.
United Nations experts have reportedly documented over 200 enforced disappearances in the country since 2019, describing the trend as a “pattern of repression.”
Survivors of abduction have recounted harrowing experiences. Human rights activist Edgar Mwakabela, also known as Sativa, told international media that he was kidnapped, beaten, and shot in the head by his captors, whom he believes were linked to state security forces.
He survived what he described as an attempt to leave him for dead in a remote national park. His account is one of many that paint a picture of systematic violence and intimidation.
The government has previously attempted to address the crisis. In June 2025, President Samia Suluhu Hassan ordered the police to intensify their efforts to end the trend of disappearances.
However, the police have often attributed the disappearances to staged abductions, witchcraft, or individuals leaving to join extremist groups—explanations that have been met with deep scepticism from human rights organisations and the families of the missing.
Human rights groups have expressed frustration at the lack of meaningful investigations and accountability. The Tanganyika Law Society has noted that many people are too afraid to report cases for fear of victimisation.
The Legal and Human Rights Centre has criticised the government’s prolonged silence on many cases, whilst international observers have raised concerns about the climate of fear and impunity that appears to have taken hold.
As the government now publicly acknowledges the crisis, many will be watching closely to see whether the prime minister’s words translate into concrete action to dismantle the machinery of fear, ensure accountability for past abuses, and restore public confidence in the rule of law.
The families of the disappeared and human rights advocates have called for independent investigations and meaningful reforms to prevent further erosion of democratic institutions and civil liberties.
