The driver of the Vice Chairperson of Tanzania’s main opposition party, John Heche, was found dead in his hotel room on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. The deceased, Suez Daniel Maradufu, was discovered in the morning after police broke down the door to his room following reports from colleagues that he was not responding to phone calls or knocks.
After the abrupt ban on political party rallies, CHADEMA Vice Chairperson John Heche and other party officials traveled from Tabora, where the party had planned to hold a series of rallies, to Kigoma for a Central Committee meeting on June 30, 2026. Maradufu was the one driving the Vice Chairperson and was expected to continue with the duty on the day he was found.
“Early this morning, his colleagues, together with the Deputy Chairperson, Mr. Heche, tried to call him, but they were unable to reach him. They then came to his hotel, where they found the door locked,” CHADEMA Deputy Secretary Amani Golugwa said in a recorded video.
“At that point, they informed the police, who arrived at the scene. After forcing the door open, they discovered his body lying on the floor near the entrance, with blood pooled on the ground nearby,” he continued.
People who had been with Maradufu expressed shock, saying he had no known health problems and had been carrying out his duties as usual before he was found dead that morning.
According to the Kigoma’s police report, officers received information from Zabron Mwita, a resident of Sirari and secretary to John Heche, stating that they had gone to a guest house known as Ntahamba to wake Maradufu but received no response. His mobile phone was also unreachable.
“The officers found the door locked and had to break it down in front of those who had reported the matter, as they had been unable to reach him by phone. After breaking down the door, they found Suez Dani Maradufu lying face down,” the police report read.
“Initial investigation in the room where he had been sleeping found various human medications, in the form of assorted pills. The body of the deceased has been taken to Maweni Regional Referral Hospital in Kigoma for further examination,” the report highlights. Police said investigations into the cause of death were ongoing.
In 2019, Maradufu was hospitalized after being attacked with machetes by unknown assailants, by then Heche was serving as the Member of Parliament for Tarime. No one was arrested in connection with that attack.
Maradufu’s death comes nearly two months after David Djumbe, an aide to the CHADEMA Chairperson, survived an abduction. Djumbe escaped after a pursuit by members of the public forced the armed abductors into a situation that gave him an opportunity to flee.
Police said they were investigating the abduction. However, no report has been released on the individuals who allegedly identified themselves as police officers.
