Dar es Salaam – Coletha Clavery Ntidyicha, 31, chairperson of opposition CHADEMA’s youth wing BAVICHA in Kigoma Region, has been charged with counselling the commission of terrorist acts at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in the city.
A charge sheet dated November 3, 2026 alleges that she advised the public to participate in terrorist acts involving serious damage to property, with the aim of destabilising the country’s fundamental political, constitutional, economic and social structures.
The prosecution follows a legal challenge to her detention and has drawn objections from CHADEMA over her access to legal representation. In a November 4 statement, the party said Ntidyicha had been brought before the court without her lawyers being given an opportunity to attend.
The charge sheet places the alleged conduct on unspecified dates between August 1 and October 23, 2026, within Dar es Salaam’s city and region. It accuses her of counselling “the general public in the United Republic of Tanzania to participate in commission of terrorist acts.”
The particulars do not identify the words she allegedly used, whether the communication was spoken or written, or the specific property whose damage she allegedly encouraged. They do not describe a completed attack or identify a victim.
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The allegation is framed under sections 31(d) and 4 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act, read together with the Economic and Organised Crime Control Act. The charge sheet lists a single offence and records her occupation as salon work.
Under section 31(d), counselling or procuring the commission of an offence under the terrorism law is itself an offence. The provisions cited concerning terrorist acts encompass an act or threat involving serious damage to property when accompanied by the specified destabilising aim.
Detention challenge
Ntidyicha was arrested on October 14 in Kwa Aziz Ally, Temeke, according to a public account. Her detention subsequently became the subject of a High Court application seeking an order requiring police to produce her before the court or release her.
In an October 28 statement, BAVICHA national information officer Jeremia Emanuel Mwashiuya said Justice Arnold Kirekiano had heard a preliminary objection raised by government lawyers over two days.
According to the statement, the government argued that the applicants’ affidavit was defective because it had not been sworn before a commissioner for oaths. The court rejected that objection and allowed an additional affidavit containing newly obtained information about Ntidyicha’s whereabouts.
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The statement said the substantive application was scheduled for October 30. The reported October 28 decision concerned whether the application could proceed, rather than a determination of the criminal allegation now set out in the charge sheet.
CHADEMA’s communications and publicity director, Brenda Rupia, said on November 4 that the party supported the rule of law but believed terrorism offences were being used to silence political opponents. The party described the circumstances of Ntidyicha’s court appearance as a violation of her right to legal representation.
The party also demanded explanations over the detention of Grace Shio, Fadhili Mbeya and Fred Masele, alleging that they had not been brought to court and that lawyers had been prevented from seeing them.
Wider prosecutions
The case adds to a series of criminal proceedings against CHADEMA figures. In July, the party said 51 of its members had been arrested and charged with terrorism across several regions following the Saba Saba demonstrations.
Home Affairs Minister Patrobass Katambi rejected accusations of political targeting at the time, saying authorities were addressing criminal conduct. “No one can be targeted, nor is there any intention aimed at targeting a person or an institution,” he said.
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CHADEMA’s organisation, training and elections director John Pambalu was separately charged with treason in October. National chairperson Tundu Lissu is awaiting judgment in his own treason trial on November 6, 2026.
Recent High Court decisions have brought relief in individual CHADEMA-related matters, including an acquittal on appeal and protection for confidential lawyer-client consultations.
They did not determine the broader terrorism prosecutions, and none decides the accusation against Ntidyicha.
