Debate has intensified in various spaces in Tanzania following a repeated announcement by a Muslim cleric, Sheikh Said Mwaipopo, who unveiled his private militia on Saturday, July 4, 2026, dubbed “Black Tiger,” to deal with anti-government protesters.
Speaking to the press, surrounded by a group of young men dressed entirely in black, including balaclava masks, Mwaipopo said the group is made up of patriotic youth who are sacrificing their lives for the country. This is the second such announcement from Mwaipopo; on June 20, 2026, he unveiled a similar group, which he dubbed “Wild Dogs.”
“Those were wild dogs; today we have black tigers who will be on the frontline to confront demonstrators, to confront criminals,” Mwaipopo argued. “These are the ones who will be stationed on the rooftops of buildings, and above the main stands of Ubungo, of Mbezi, and there at Ubungo, and all the areas up to the port, they will be there.”
“One of them can confront civilians armed with small weapons or sharp items, 15 to 20 civilians against one Tiger. And if you try anything, you will leave without teeth, and others without eyes,” he emphasized.
Mwaipopo’s announcement comes as the government has banned a demonstration that activists announced on social media for July 7. In his remarks, Mwaipopo warned of immense torture to those who will try to protest.
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“These ones will pull out your teeth using pliers without anesthesia, and then you’re given a piece of sugarcane to chew. These are people with the highest level of training; they have dedicated themselves, sacrificing their lives for this nation. So be very careful, Tanzanians, be disciplined toward your country.”
While his first announcement stirred debate, this time the theatrical style of the press event, resembling videos released by extremist groups, has caused many people to worry, especially given his consistency and his apparent ability to disregard the constitution and laws openly without consequence.
“While the world is working to eradicate terrorism, Tanzania is witnessing a group like this openly declaring itself. The consequences of supporting or sponsoring Mwaipopo for what he is doing are serious, both internationally and within the country,” veteran politician Joseph Selasini wrote on his X page.
Speaking in an interview with The Chanzo, human rights advocate William Maduhu questioned the legality of Mwaipopo’s actions, saying they go against the constitution and the law of the country.
“According to Article 147 of our Constitution, it establishes the armed forces, the Police Force, the People’s Defence Force, together with the Prisons Service. If you also read the Police Force Act along with auxiliary services, it is abundantly clear that the responsibility for the security and safety of citizens and their property lies in the hands of the Police Force,” Maduhu, who is an advocate working for the Legal and Human Rights Centre, explained.
“Now, if we have started allowing private individuals to take on security responsibilities that clearly belong to the Police Force, I don’t think that sits well, that’s not right, because [if] everyone in this country now decides to come out publicly and say, ‘I have a group of wild dogs,’ ‘I have a group of bees,’ or whatever, I think as a nation we cannot get anywhere like this,” he emphasized.
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In his analysis, Maduhu underscored that he is surprised there has been no firm reaction from the Police, nor any rebuke of any kind, while Mwaipopo continues to remain at large and even double down on his actions.
“Those he calls the ‘Stray Dogs’ are not even registered as a security company, even though our country’s laws require private security companies to be registered in order to provide security services. It is surprising that, up to now, the Police Force has not taken any action against him,” Maduhu said.
Following the fallout from the 2025 election and the killing of citizens, various Muslim clerics, including the officially recognized umbrella institution BAKWATA, have come out in defense of the government. Sheikh Mwaipopo was one of the key figures who called several press conferences, including some featuring direct attacks on Christian leaders, expounding on a belief that the political crisis in Tanzania is fueled by Christian leaders who are undermining the President because of her religion.
The push to stoke religious division in Tanzania had intensified in November and December 2025, after a series of press by Muslim cleric, but failed to gain public traction after a pushback driven mainly by youth on social media, who championed Muslim-Christian unity online, giving rise to the meme term “Wakrislamu,” a combination of the Swahili words for the country’s two largest religious groups, Wakristo (Christians) and Waislamu (Muslims).
Many analysts view the push for religious tension as politically expedient, coming after a political crisis that has spiraled increasingly out of control following a series of escalatory political decisions, without any course correction. Analysts have argued that the Mwaipopo trend is worrisome, as it points to a state of “lawlessness” in the country.
“It is a sign of the lack of the rule of law, and it is a bad thing that does not require any investigation to see,” Dr. Muhidin Shangwe, a lecturer in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), told The Chanzo.
“What he is doing is, if my memory serves me correctly it is the second time, or perhaps even the third time. It raises even more suspicion. It suggests that this man has the backing of the authorities, because the institutions responsible for dealing with the kind of activities he is talking about already exist,” Shangwe said.
When Mwaipopo first made the announcement about his militia on June 20, 2026, Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Jumanne Muliro was asked about it by reporters on June 23, 2026, during a press conference. He responded to the question saying that the Police were investigating the issue, however, no futher updates were issued by the police.
“So while that investigation was supposedly still ongoing, this man has now resurfaced and made the same claims again. Now it seems there will be an investigation into an investigation. This is an indication that, I don’t know how else to put it, it is difficult to argue that he does not have the blessing or support of the authorities,” Dr. Shangwe argued.
“We were expecting even religious institutions to come out and say something, to rebuke or embrace him, if he is representing their views,” Shangwe added.
The Chanzo has reached out to the Minister of Home Affairs, Patrobasi Katambi, regarding the Mwaipopo incident via his mobile phone but is yet to receive a response.
