Activists on Social media are demanding authorities in the country to release youth activist Deusdedith Soka who was taken by a group of men on August 18, 2024, in the Buza area alongside two colleagues Jacob Godwin Mlay and Frank Mbise.

Soka and Mlay are both leaders of the opposition party CHADEMA in Temeke, while Frank Mbise is a commercial motorcycle driver who used to work for Soka.

In a statement released on August 19, 2024, CHADEMA has called for the Police to release Soka and his colleague immediately. CHADEMA reported that his mobile number which was under Police custody since September 2023 and was never re-activated was used to share text that the activist was planning to go outside the country because of infighting in his party.

Many of his close associates have reported that Soka and his colleague were arrested by the Temeke Police led by OCCID, however, in several media reports Police have denied the claim.

On August 13, 2024, Soka left messages on his X account that his life was in danger. This came shortly after he was released from detention alongside other CHADEMA members who were arrested as they were heading to Mbeya for the official party’s youth day celebration event. An event that was canceled following the mass arrest of CHADEMA members and leaders.

“The truth that I will make clear before God, my activist friends, my fellow leaders, my brothers, relatives, friends, and everyone around the world, according to the information I have received, there is a plan to harm me and make me disappear completely from this world,” said Soka.

He added: “They have already started the first step, which is to identify me by my face and where I live. The next stage will be to quietly capture me and make me disappear. The reason is because I am radical. I encourage the youth, our God is alive and lives forever. If it happens, do not cry or be saddened, but let it give us the courage to fight and reject betrayal.”

Soka was also calling for a demonstration against a series of abductions and disappearances that have become widespread across the country, he and his fellow youth activists had proposed for the demonstration to commence on August 26, 2024.

Soka’s disappearance is the second case in the past month, CHADEMA is still searching for its missing Rukwa leader, Dioniz Kipanya who went missing on July 26, 2024.

CHADEMA’s officials say before his disappearance he was contacted by people who claimed were coming from the Rukwa’s Regional Police Commander. Police in Rukwa deny claims of abduction and say they are working with his family to find his whereabouts. Many people have associated his disappearance with his activism online, including his July 17, 2024 post where he criticized the length of the President’s convoy.

Human rights lawyer Paul Kisabo filed a case against IGP and OCCID demanding the court to compel them to produce Soka.