The arrests of prominent Tanzanian opposition figures Godbless Lema and Boniface Jacob come amid a massive post-election security operation that has seen hundreds charged with treason.
The political crisis in Tanzania deepened over the weekend as security forces detained leading members of the main opposition party, CHADEMA.
The party issued a public statement confirming the arrests of three senior officials Godbless Lema, Boniface Jacob, and Amani Golugwa on Saturday, 8 November. All three were reportedly taken into custody by the police force.
This latest action is part of a sweeping crackdown initiated in the wake of the country’s highly contentious general election held on October 29, 2025.
“We have observed a continuous and ongoing wave of arrests targeting our leaders, members, and citizens,” the CHADEMA public statement read.
The detentions follow violent protests that erupted immediately after the 29 October vote. Incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with nearly 98% of the vote.
The victory was dismissed as illegitimate by the opposition, which had largely boycotted the election after their main candidates were barred from the ballot. Critics accused the government of manipulating the electoral process and suppressing dissent.
International observers have widely condemned the election.
The African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) stated the elections “did not comply with AU principles, normative frameworks, and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections.”
The mission cited reports of ballot-box stuffing and a nationwide internet shutdown during the polling period.
The atmosphere in Tanzania remains tense, characterised by mass arrests and worrying reports of fatalities. Police have launched a ‘serious manhunt’ for those they hold responsible for the post-election unrest.
The authorities are seeking the arrest of other key CHADEMA officials, including Secretary-General John Mnyika and Communications Head Brenda Rupia, on related charges.
The most severe measure has been the prosecution of political opponents on charges of treason, an offence that potentially carries the death penalty in Tanzania.
Hundreds of individuals have been charged with treason following the demonstrations.
CHADEMA and human rights groups claim that security forces killed more than 1,000 people during and after the protests, and the government has labelled these figures exaggerated but has not provided its own official death toll.
The recent arrests confirm that the government is systematically targeting the opposition’s structure. CHADEMA’s Deputy Secretary General, Amani Golugwa, whose arrest was confirmed in the party’s statement, was already named by police as a wanted person.
Human rights organisations have voiced deep alarm over the use of lethal force and arbitrary detentions.
“The Tanzanian authorities’ violent and repressive response to election-related protests further undermines the credibility of the electoral process,” stated Oryem Nyeko, a senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.
The ongoing detentions and harsh legal proceedings have intensified fears that Tanzania is reverting to the era of limited political space, despite initial hopes for reform after President Hassan took office in 2021.
The international community is now calling for an impartial investigation into the reported violence and an end to the use of excessive force against protesters.
