The deputy leader of Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, has been charged with terrorism just two weeks after his arrest in the capital, Dodoma, his lawyer has confirmed.
John Heche, who was detained ahead of the country’s controversial general election, is now being held in Dar es Salaam, where he was officially informed of the charges. His lawyer, Hekima Mwasipu, said it remains unclear when Heche will appear in court, adding that his client’s health had deteriorated in custody.
Heche’s arrest on 22 October came days before an election that opposition parties have denounced as a “sham.” President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with a staggering 98% of the vote and was sworn in on Monday.
Chadema’s chairman, Tundu Lissu, remains in detention on treason charges, which he has repeatedly denied. Both arrests have deepened concerns about an escalating crackdown on dissent in Tanzania.
International observers have also criticised the election process. The African Union (AU) released a rare rebuke on Wednesday, describing the polls as “compromised.” AU officials reported widespread ballot stuffing and voters being issued multiple ballots, concluding that the 2025 election “did not comply with AU principles or international democratic standards.”
The AU urged Tanzanian authorities to undertake urgent political and electoral reforms to address the root causes of what it described as “democratic and electoral challenges.”
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) echoed similar concerns, stating that the election failed to meet the requirements of a free and fair democratic process.
Despite mounting criticism, the Tanzanian government has maintained that the election was fair, credible, and transparent.
The post-election period has been marred by widespread unrest and bloodshed. Opposition figures claim that hundreds were killed as security forces clashed with protesters. Chadema officials reported at least 800 deaths, while diplomatic sources put the number closer to 500.
President Samia acknowledged during her inauguration that there had been “loss of lives and destruction of property,” but suggested that foreign nationals were among those arrested during the violence.
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have accused the government of a “wave of terror” marked by enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings targeting opposition members and activists — claims the government denies.
Heche’s arrest and subsequent terrorism charges are seen as part of a broader intensification of political repression in Tanzania. His lawyer has filed a petition for bail, expressing concern over his deteriorating health.
With key opposition figures either jailed or disqualified including Lissu and Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo Tanzania’s 2025 election has left many questioning the future of democracy in a country once regarded as one of Africa’s most stable nations.
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