Dar es Salaam – CHADEMA has accused police of holding ten of its leaders and members without bringing them before a court or granting police bail, alleging torture, forced confessions and restrictions on contact with lawyers and relatives.
The party says one of those detained, Saragana Bwire, was arrested inside the High Court premises on November 6 while awaiting the judgment in national chairperson Tundu Lissu’s case. Other arrests in its account date back to October 10.
In a statement issued on Sunday, November 8, communications and publicity director Brenda Rupia described a “covert operation targeting CHADEMA leaders and members” and said some regional officials remained detained while authorities awaited a special interrogation team.
“During these detentions, they have reportedly been subjected to torture and forced to confess to allegations brought against them,” the statement said.
The allegations have not been independently established. Police had not publicly answered the specific claims by Monday evening.
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Among those named are Fadhili Benedict Mbeya, reportedly arrested on October 10, and Fredy Masele, chairperson of the party’s BAVICHA youth wing in the Victoria Zone, arrested on October 15. Grace Shio, its Nyasa Zone secretary, has been detained since October 22, the party says.
The list also includes Edson Malyo Myinga, Nyalumbu Ward secretary in Kilolo, Iringa Region, reportedly arrested on October 14, and Rodrick Mwazembe, Urenje Ward chairperson in Mbeya Vijijini Constituency, on October 25.
CHADEMA says Mbeya regional secretary Ham Mbeyale was arrested on November 1 and Kigoma regional secretary Neema David Mhanuzi on November 6. Songwe regional chairperson Issa Kwisa Lupembe and Gwamaka Mbughi were reportedly arrested on November 7.
The party alleges that detainees have been denied legal representation and communication with family members. It also says women have been searched by male officers and that detainees, including Shio, have been denied essential female hygiene and personal-care items.
“CHADEMA leaders and members are merely suspects and must not be subjected to torture, intimidation or any form of ill-treatment while in police custody,” the statement said.
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The law requires a woman’s search to be conducted by another woman with strict regard to decency. That safeguard concerns searches, rather than a general prohibition on male officers arresting women.
CHADEMA demands police bail under section 134 of the relevant Act. The provision requires police bond or bail while investigations remain incomplete, but excludes serious offences and offences triable by the High Court; the statement does not identify the suspected offences in these ten cases.
The latest allegations follow earlier disputes over detention and legal access. On November 4, CHADEMA said Kigoma BAVICHA chairperson Coletha Clavery Ntidyicha had appeared at Kisutu without her lawyers being given an opportunity to attend, and demanded explanations about Shio, Mbeya and Masele.
Ntidyicha faces a charge of counselling terrorist acts. The party’s organisation, training and elections director, John Pambalu, is separately charged with treason over alleged efforts to obstruct the 2025 election.
Lissu was cleared of treason but sentenced to four years for incitement on November 6. He disputes the substituted conviction and requested bail pending appeal; the proceedings ended without an announced grant.
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In a separate October 16 judgment, the High Court found violations of confidential lawyer-client access at Ukonga Prison and ordered arrangements allowing Lissu to consult advisers beyond officers’ hearing.
In July, CHADEMA reported that 51 members had been arrested and charged with terrorism. Home Affairs Minister Patrobass Katambi rejected political-targeting allegations then, saying authorities were addressing criminal conduct, a position predating the latest statement.
CHADEMA now calls on security agencies to observe the Constitution and detainees’ rights, and says the arrests will not force it to submit to those in power.
