Chadema National Vice Chairman, John Heche./FILE
Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), says one of its top officials has been abducted, and his whereabouts remain unknown.
In a statement, Chadema says National Vice Chairman John Heche was allegedly taken away on Tuesday, 4th November, 2025, by those persons who identified themselves as police officers under unclear circumstances.
Heche was said to have been picked up by cops from Mtumba Police Station yesterday, on the grounds that he was being summoned by the Regional Police Commander (RPC) of Dodoma.
“He was picked in the presence of his wife and the secretary of the central region branch, Ms. Ashura Maoud. The vehicles then sped off as people demanded answers on where he was being taken,” the party’s director of communication Brend Rupia, said in a statement.
When the family and party officials later went to the RPC’s office in Dodoma, they were told that there was no information or summons regarding Heche.
The party now says his current location remains unknown, raising serious concerns about his safety and well-being.
“We demand an immediate public explanation from Inspector General of Police (IGP) Camilius Wambura, Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Ramadhan Kingai, and other senior police officials to disclose the whereabouts and safety of Hon. Heche,” Rupia’s statement said.
The development, according to the party, is part of the ongoing harassment targeting critics of the Samia Suluhu regime before, during, and after the controversial elections in which she won with a 98 percent margin.
Heche was first arrested on October 22 in Dar es Salaam while entering the High Court for the treason case of party chairman Tundu Lissu.
A few days later, Chadema revealed that he was critically ill while in police custody, suffering from chest pain and fever, and had not received proper medical care.
Two weeks ago, Heche was also stopped at the Kenya-Tanzania border at Isebenia as was traveling to attend the burial of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Siaya.
Heche’s troubles also come day after the opposition party and human rights groups claimed hundreds of Tanzanians were massacred during the three days of chaos that were witnessed from the election day on October 29th.
Human Rights Watch, in its report on the elections, stated that the Tanzanian government intensified political repression, suppressed political opposition and critics of the ruling party, stifled the media, and failed to ensure the electoral commission’s independence in the lead-up to the elections.
Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for East and Southern Africa, Vongai Chikwanda, said, “Amnesty International is particularly alarmed by reports that amidst the blackouts, security forces have used excessive force to suppress and disperse ongoing post-election protests, resulting in the deaths and injuries of protesters.”
