Tanzanian opposition leader and member of Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) Party Godbless Lema was blocked from travelling to Kenya on Friday, June 6.
Lema says the Tanzanian authorities had put him on a stop list and barred him from leaving. He said he was held for over four hours at the Namanga Border Post as he sought entry into Kenya for medical attention in Nairobi.
He further added that he was forced to go back to Arusha, Tanzania, with his passport confiscated.
“Baada Ya Kusubiri Masaa Zaidi Ya Manne (4) Sasa Nimezuiwa Rasmi Kusafiri , Pasaport Yangu Imechukuliwa Na Sasa Napaswa Kurudi Nyumbani Arusha.Kwa Maelezo Zaidi Niende Makao Makuu Ya Uhamiaji Dodoma.Maumivu Niliyo Nayo Ni Makali Sana, Nilipaswa Kutazama Afya Yangu Zaidi Kesho Nairobi Na Sasa Siwezi Tena Kuendelea Na Safari,” Lema wrote on Friday, June 6 on X.
Shortly after Godbless Lema’s statement on X, the Tanzanian immigration office confirmed that he was indeed barred from travelling to Kenya.
“Idara ya Uhamiaji inapenda kuujulisha umma kuwa leo tarehe 6 Juni, 2025 katika kituo cha uhamiaji cha mpaka wa Namanga Mkoani Arusha, ndugu Godbless Jonathan Lema alizuiliwa kutoka nchini na pasipoti yake ya kusafiria kushikiliwa.”
However, they informed the public that the opposition leader was blocked from leaving as he was required to visit the immigration office for questioning, and not because he is a member of the CHADEMA party.
“Idara inapenda kuufahamisha umma kuwa utaratibu uliotumika kumzuia kutoka nchini ni wa kawaida na unatumika kwa raia yeyote pale ambapo Idara imepata taarifa zinazohitaji mhusika kuhojiwa.
Aidha, Idara ya Uhamiaji inatoa wito kwa wananchi kupuuza taarifa za uongo zilizochapishwa na ndg. Lema kupitia mitandao ya kijamii kuwa zuio hilo linawalenga viongozi wote wa CHADEMA,” the statement read.
