Tanzania’s opposition says the police have killed and injured several supporters in Dar-es-salaam

Bloodshed in Tanzania?

The main opposition party in Tanzania is reporting that one person was beaten to death by the police for simply turning up at the court in Dar-Es-salaam to follow-up the proceedings of the charges against their chairperson Tundu Lissu.

Godbless Lema, a top ranking official of the Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) said the police disappeared with the body of the slain victim, amid chaos that ensued at the Kisutu Magistrate court.

The party members who were at the court said they witnessed the police beating up the man until his body went rigid.

A statement from CHADEMA said the dead person could not be identified because the police refused to release the body which they kept in their truck throughout the day.

Other party members were also beaten up, some suffered broken limbs and were carried off into the wilderness to be dumped there.

Among the seriously injured party officials include, Peter Alex Kilomba, Emmanuel Severine, Khanifa Mussa, Modest Munihawa, Robert Mawege, Nasri Abdallah Said and Emmanuel Modest.

Efforts to get the spokesperson of the police force to comment on the issue proved futile.

The Vice-Chairperson of the Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendelo, John Heche was also arrested alongside other party bigwigs and until going to press, their whereabouts were not known to their families of colleagues.

A number of journalists who were covering the case at the Kisutu Magistrate have reportedly disappeared with some reports claiming that they were arrested before being taken to unknown destinations.

Lema, who is also the former Member of Parliament for Arusha Urban Constituency, says he has received reports that his own life was in danger but doesn’t care and will continue to fight for justice at whichever price.

Meanwhile the case for treason charges facing the Chairperson of CHADEMA, Tundu Lissu has been adjoined until May 6, 2025.