This archive report was first published on 27 July 2019.
Since President John Magufuli's election in 2015, Tanzania has witnessed a disturbing trend of kidnappings targeting critics of the government.
High-profile dissident Mdude Nyagali was kidnapped in May after branding President Magufuli a 'hypocrite' on Twitter. He was dumped, seriously beaten, in a village two days later.
Chadema member Daniel John was kidnapped in February 2018, only to turn up dead with machete wounds to the head. Two years earlier, Ben Saanane, an assistant to Chadema leader Freeman Mbowe, disappeared and his fate remains unknown.
According to the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC), 17 kidnappings have occurred since 2016, targeting 'human rights defenders, journalists, businessmen, politicians, and artists.'
"People say they are afraid because no one seems to be safe," said an Arusha bus driver, speaking on condition of anonymity. "In public transport and bars, people no longer talk politics. They are scared of the people seated next to them."
Magufuli, known as the 'bulldozer,' presented himself as a no-nonsense, corruption-busting, man-of-the-people. However, rights watchdogs say a climate of fear has set in since his election.
"Kidnappings have increased, mainly targeting people who openly criticise the regime, in particular political opponents," said Fatma Karume, former president of the Tanganyika Law Society.
Opposition parties blame the government for the kidnappings, citing the banning of their meetings, arrests of top officials, and shutdown of newspapers and arrest of journalists who criticize authorities.
Opposition lawmaker Tundu Lissu has blamed authorities for an attack in 2017, which saw him shot multiple times at his home.
"The regime is behind all this. These are the tactics of a regime which does not accept any criticism," said lawmaker Halima Mdee, leader of Chadema's women's branch.
However, the government denies the allegations, claiming many of the disappearances are faked. Interior Minister Kangi Lugola ordered police to "find and arrest those spreading these lies in order to turn the population against the government".
Published on July 27, 2019, by AFP.
