A wave of criticism has erupted across Africa after more than 40 prominent leaders, activists, and democracy defenders condemned the Tanzanian government for detaining opposition leaders Tundu Lissu and John Heche, and demanded their immediate and unconditional release.
The leaders, speaking under the Platform for African Democrats (PAD), said the two had been targeted for their political beliefs and outspoken criticism of the ruling regime, warning that their detention was part of a broader plan to silence dissent before the country’s October 29 general election.
In a statement issued on October 28, the group expressed deep concern over what it termed a systematic assault on opposition figures in Tanzania.
“We call for their immediate and unconditional release,” said PAD, whose signatories include Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Uganda’s Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), former Botswana President Ian Khama, Zimbabwe’s David Coltart, Angola’s Adalberto Costa Júnior, and Nigeria’s Peter Obi, among others.
PAD said Heche, the deputy chair of the opposition CHADEMA party, was arrested on October 22 and has not been seen since, with authorities refusing to confirm his location or the reasons for his arrest.
“The disappearance of Heche by Tanzanian authorities indicates he is being ill-treated and not afforded his right to due process,” the group stated.
They urged Tanzanian authorities to allow Heche’s family and lawyers access to him and to publicly demonstrate that he is being treated humanely. The statement cautioned that continued silence from the state could amount to an enforced disappearance and a violation of both national and international human rights laws.
The leaders also decried the prolonged detention of CHADEMA chair Tundu Lissu, who was arrested in April and charged with treason and publishing false information. PAD described the charges as fabricated and politically driven, meant to intimidate opposition voices and dismantle democratic space.
“These accusations not only threaten his life under the death penalty provision but also represent a dangerous weaponisation of the law to silence legitimate dissent,” they said.
The group urged the judiciary to ensure that justice is upheld in Lissu’s ongoing trial and that his rights are respected under the country’s Constitution and international legal standards. “The spurious evidence being presented by state prosecutors does not withstand judicial scrutiny,” PAD warned, adding that the trial risks eroding Tanzania’s credibility before the world.
PAD also raised alarm over the disappearance of former Tanzanian ambassador Humphrey Polepole, who has been missing since October 6, saying his case reflects an alarming trend of enforced disappearances targeting critics of the government.
“The lengths to which the state has gone to silence voices of peaceful dissent and opposition to the ruling regime belies its pretence of being a democratic, open society,” the statement read.
Separately, East African civil society organisations under the #JumuiyaNiYetu coalition said Tanzania’s upcoming vote amounts to a “coronation” rather than a genuine election.
In a strongly worded statement titled “Tanzania doesn’t have an election but a crackdown disguised as democracy,” the groups—including the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Vocal Africa, and the Pan African Progressive Leaders Network—said the government had deployed massive police presence, shut down independent media, and intimidated political opponents.
“The so-called election in Tanzania is a sham. The outcome was fixed the moment Suluhu strangled all opposition, silenced the media, and shut down political space,” they said.
The coalition reported that over 250 people, mostly opposition supporters and activists, have disappeared or been abducted since the state intensified its crackdown. It added that prominent religious figures such as bishops Josephat Gwajima and Benson Bagonza have also faced harassment.
International observers from Belgium, Germany, and Sweden have reportedly withdrawn from the polls, citing lack of transparency and fairness. “Most credible international observers have pulled out because, what, exactly, is there to observe in a coronation?” the statement posed.
The organisations criticised the African Union and the East African Community for remaining silent despite growing reports of abuses. “Africans are rightfully outraged that the African Union has chosen silence over principle,” they said, calling for immediate intervention to prevent further violations.
