Tanzania’s Presdident Samia Suluhu Hassan has denounced the brutal killing of a senior member of the principle opposition occasion Chadema, who was kidnapped, crushed and doused with acid.
On Friday, Mohamed Ali Kibao, 69, was pressured off a bus by suspected safety brokers whereas travelling from the nation’s largest metropolis, Dar es Salaam, to his hometown Tanga. His physique was present in Ununio, the waterfront district of Dar es Salaam, native media reported.
The autopsy discovered that Mr Kibao had been “severely crushed and had acid poured on his face”, occasion chairman Freeman Mbowe instructed the AFP information company.
President Samia condemned the “brutal acts” and referred to as for an investigation into the homicide.
“I’ve ordered the investigation companies to deliver me detailed details about this horrible incident and others like this as quickly as attainable,” she mentioned in a put up on X, previously Twitter.
“Our nation is a democracy, and each citizen has the fitting to dwell,” she added.
America Embassy in Tanzania voiced their help for an “unbiased, clear, and immediate investigation” into the killing of Mr Kibao.
Mr Kibao’s killing comes amid concern by the opposition and rights teams of a clampdown on political exercise.
“We can’t enable our folks to proceed disappearing or being killed like this. The lives of Chadema leaders are presently in danger,” Mr Mbowe instructed AFP.
Mr Kibao was a retired army intelligence officer and joined Chadema in 2008. He shall be buried on Monday within the Darigube district of Tanga metropolis.
The killing of Mr Kibao has sparked widespread condemnation throughout Tanzania, with many asking the federal government to take motion over stories of a number of different folks being kidnapped and killed.
The US Embassy in Tanzania mentioned: “Homicide and disappearances, in addition to final month’s detentions, beatings, efforts to disenfranchise residents forward of elections, should not have any place in a democracy”.
Final month senior Chadema leaders, Mr Mbowe and his deputy Tundu Lissu, had been arrested after they tried to carry a youth rally.
Police banned the rally, saying it was meant to trigger violence.
In July, an artist was accused of burning a picture of President Samia and sentenced to 2 years in jail.
Many individuals concern Tanzania may very well be returning to the repressive rule of late President John Magufuli, regardless of his successor Ms Samia lifting a ban on opposition gatherings and promising to revive aggressive politics.
In August, Human Rights Watch mentioned the rise in arrests of opposition activists was a “dangerous signal” with the 2025 presidential elections across the nook.