Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, says its deputy secretary-general Amani Golugwa has been arrested, as authorities file treason charges against more than 200 party members and supporters, escalating political tensions across the country.
The arrests mark the government’s most sweeping crackdown on opposition activity since President Samia Suluhu Hassan took office in 2021, raising renewed fears of shrinking political space ahead of the 2025 general elections.
“They came for him early in the morning,” Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe said at a press briefing in Dar es Salaam. “This is an attempt to silence democratic voices under the guise of national security.”
The Arrest and Allegations
According to party officials, Golugwa was detained at his home in the eastern town of Tanga before being transported to Dodoma, where he remains in custody. Police spokesperson David Misime confirmed the arrest, saying Golugwa and others are being investigated for “actions intended to undermine state authority.”
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) announced that 217 individuals associated with Chadema are facing treason-related charges, including allegations of inciting unrest and “plotting to destabilize the government.”
However, the prosecution has yet to provide public evidence supporting those claims.
“The use of treason charges against political opponents is a serious red flag,” said Zitto Kabwe, leader of ACT-Wazalendo, another opposition party. “It sends a chilling message that political disagreement is being criminalized.”
Mounting Pressure on Samia’s Government
President Samia Suluhu Hassan
