Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, has condemned the arrest of a United States–based Tanzanian citizen, Thadei Stabinus Kweka, describing the move as part of an expanding campaign of state-sponsored repression targeting members of the Tanzanian diaspora.
In a statement issued on December 30, 2025, the party denounced what it called the arbitrary arrest and continued detention of Kweka, saying he was being held on vague and politically motivated allegations, including accusations loosely framed as sedition by the police.
Chadema said the case raised serious concerns about respect for human rights, due process and Tanzania’s obligations under international law.
The opposition party argued that Kweka’s arrest should not be treated as an isolated incident, but rather as part of a broader and escalating pattern of repression directed at Tanzanian citizens living abroad.
According to Chadema, the detention of diaspora members upon their return to the country, often without clear charges or transparency, amounts to transnational state-sponsored repression.
The party said such actions are designed to intimidate, silence and punish citizens for exercising their constitutional rights to free expression, civic engagement and political participation beyond Tanzania’s borders.
It described the approach as a direct assault on constitutional freedoms and a violation of international human rights commitments.
Chadema said Kweka had travelled back to Tanzania for personal and family reasons before being arrested under what it described as ill-defined charges.
The party added that his detention, coupled with what it termed public misinformation and fear-inducing narratives, demonstrated the misuse of law enforcement agencies for political purposes.
The party criticised the continued use of broad and colonial-era offences such as sedition and incitement, arguing that such laws have no place in a society governed by the rule of law.
It further warned that arbitrary arrests, abductions, incommunicado detention and intimidation of diaspora voices constitute serious human rights violations.
Chadema maintained that no state has the legitimate authority to extend repression beyond its borders or to persecute citizens for lawful expression abroad, adding that attempts to silence the diaspora reflect political insecurity rather than sovereignty.
The party called for the immediate and unconditional release of Kweka unless credible and specific charges are promptly presented before an independent court.
It also demanded an end to what it described as the targeting, harassment and criminalisation of Tanzanian diaspora members, while urging authorities to guarantee due process, including access to legal counsel, family and judicial oversight.
In an appeal to the international community, Chadema urged the United States government, through its embassy in Dar es Salaam, to intervene in the case.
The party called on Washington to closely monitor the matter, demand adherence to due process and human rights standards, and use diplomatic channels to prevent further acts of transnational repression.
