Tanzania’s opposition party Chadema confirms detention of its deputy secretary general
Tanzania’s opposition outfit, the Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), has confirmed that its Deputy Secretary General, Amani Golugwa, was arrested by police in Arusha on Saturday, November 8, 2025.
The arrest comes amid a widening crackdown on opposition leaders following disputed presidential election results that plunged the country into unrest.
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In a statement to the public on the same day, Chadema described Golugwa’s detention as part of an ongoing campaign targeting the party’s leadership.
“The Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) wishes to inform the public that the Arusha Regional Police have arrested our Deputy Secretary General, Hon. Amani Golugwa, today, Saturday, November 8, 2025, in the morning hours,” the party wrote.
Golugwa becomes the third senior Chadema official to be arrested, following the previous detentions of party chairman Tundu Lissu and Vice Chairman John Heche.
According to the party, only three of its top six leaders remain free, raising concerns about the government’s attempts to weaken the opposition and disrupt its organisational structure.
Chadema accused the authorities of seeking to force confessions from party members and leaders, alleging that the arrests are politically motivated attempts to suppress dissent and undermine the party’s operations.
“We have information that this wave of arrests targeting our leaders and members is ongoing, and that authorities are attempting to force confessions claiming involvement in organising demonstrations. We understand that the government intends to charge our leaders with treason in order to weaken the party and disrupt its leadership,” the party wrote.
The party reassured its members and supporters that it remains committed to democracy, justice, and the rule of law, vowing to stand firm despite the arrests.
“We wish to reassure all members of Chadema and all Tanzanians who support democracy, justice, and the rule of law that our party stands firm with the people at all times — in moments of joy, sorrow, mourning, or struggle — in the fight for genuine democracy in our country,” Chadema added.
The arrests follow Chadema’s rejection of the recently announced election results, where President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner, securing another term amid widespread unrest.
On November 1, 2025, Chadema’s Secretary General, John Mnyika, stated that the election outcome had no basis in reality, insisting that the polls were neither free nor fair.
“These results have no basis in reality, as the truth is that no genuine election took place in Tanzania. Citizens did not participate in the October 29 election due to an environment that was neither free nor fair, and because of the absence of a levelled political playing field,” Mnyika’s statement read in part.
Chadema also highlighted that many of its leaders, including Tundu Lissu, were barred from participating in the elections and maintained that the electoral commission’s figures were fabricated to reflect the ruling party’s intent to rig the election.
The party further urged the international community not to recognise Samia Suluhu Hassan as the legitimate president of Tanzania.
“Furthermore, Chadema emphasises that the Electoral Commission has released figures that are completely fabricated-merely reflecting the malicious intent of Samia Suluhu Hassan and her party to rig the election, an act which they have succeeded,” Chadema retorted.
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Steve Ireri
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