Tanzania’s opposition party Chadema condemned the arbitrary arrest and torture of the children, family members, and neighbours of its Geita Rural Chairperson, Neema Chozaile.
The party says toddlers aged three and five were beaten in custody and released with injuries, demanding answers and accountability from police authorities and human rights institutions.
According to the statement released on Wednesday from the party’s headquarters in Dar es Salaam, the individuals were released on the night of December 9 bearing visible injuries after allegedly being threatened into silence.
Geita, a region in north-western Tanzania, is both an economic hub and a politically sensitive zone where opposition party, particularly CHADEMA, is closely scrutinised by the ruling Samia Suluhu's party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi, (CCM).
It is within this charged environment that CHADEMA Geita Rural Chairperson Neema Chozaile operates, and it forms the backdrop to the party’s alarm over the arbitrary arrest, torture, and unlawful detention of her children, family members, and neighbours.
The party argues that the incident, involving toddlers allegedly beaten while in police custody, reflects a broader pattern of intimidation in regions where the opposition has a strong grassroots presence.
Chadema maintained that their treatment had nothing to do with legitimate policing. “This is not law enforcement, it is instead, criminal brutality executed under state authority,” the statement read.
This comes one month after hotly contested Tanzania's general election where President Samia Suluhu won by a great margin defeating all her opponents, having them detained including Chadema's party leader Tundu Lissu.
The party has now demanded immediate answers from the Geita Regional Police Command and the Inspector General of Police.
Specifically, Chadema posed direct questions, asking, “What crime did these children commit? Under what law can officers arrest and assault minors and innocent neighbours? Who authorised this barbaric operation?”
Chadema’s communication and publicity director, Brenda Rupia, who signed the statement, said the party expects police authorities to respond publicly and transparently.
The statement further urged Tanzanian human rights bodies, especially those mandated to protect children, to intervene urgently, insisting that accountability is necessary for justice to be served.
The party’s statement emphasised that no child should ever suffer harm at the hands of the police. “No child should ever endure physical or psychological harm at the hands of the police,” it said, calling for the officers involved to face consequences at an individual level.
Chadema also highlighted the illegality of collective punishment, stating firmly, “Collective punishment is illegal in Tanzania. Every officer involved must be identified and held personally accountable. No uniform grants immunity for torture.”
The wording reaffirmed the party’s view that not only the perpetrators but also those who authorised the operation must face scrutiny.
The party pledged unwavering support for Chozaile, her family, and her neighbours, declaring that such acts of intimidation would not deter its advocacy efforts.
“We stand with Neema Chozaile, her family, and her neighbours. These abuses will not intimidate us. We will continue the struggle for justice and the protection of human dignity without retreat,” Rupia said.
Chadema’s statement, issued on December 10, 2025, reflects growing frustration within the party over what it views as escalating violations of human rights, particularly in politically sensitive regions.
Although the statement did not provide details of the events that led to the arrests, it focused entirely on the treatment of the victims and the demands for immediate intervention.
The party concluded by reinforcing its appeal to civil society, saying that human rights and child protection organisations must step in to ensure justice is pursued and upheld. The call included a plea for independent monitoring of police conduct in the matter
