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A dark day has dawned on Tanzania’s opposition movement, as a Chadema party member was found dead following a horrific abduction, beating, and acid attack, according to party leader Freeman Mbowe. This senseless act of violence has sent a chilling message to political activists across the nation.
Tanzanian authorities are under fire after Ali Mohamed Kibao, a key figure in Chadema’s national secretariat, was yanked off a bus at gunpoint on Friday by men believed to be security agents. Kibao was traveling from Dar es Salaam to Tanga when the alleged agents struck, sparking outrage among party loyalists.
The brutalized body of Ali Mohamed Kibao was found in Dar es Salaam’s Ununio waterfront district on Saturday night, a grim conclusion to a desperate search effort. The discovery has sparked widespread outrage and demands for justice in the wake of Kibao’s violent abduction.
Tanzania’s democratic credentials are under scrutiny once again, as the brutal killing of Ali Mohamed Kibao comes hot on the heels of a recent mass roundup of Chadema leaders, including Mbowe and Tundu Lissu. The earlier incident had already sparked concerns about the country’s dwindling political freedoms.
“The postmortem has been conducted (witnessed by) Chadema lawyers and it is clear that Kibao was severely beaten and had acid poured on his face,” Mbowe told reporters.
“We cannot allow our people to continue disappearing or being killed like this,” he said. “The lives of Chadema leaders are currently at risk.”
He said several other party officials had also gone missing, without giving details.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan said she had learnt of Kibao’s murder “with great sadness” and extended her condolences to his family, friends and party leaders.
“I have directed the investigative authorities to provide me with a detailed report on this extremely grave incident and similar cases urgently,” she said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“Our country is democratic, and every citizen has the right to live. The government I lead will not tolerate such acts of cruelty.”
Ali Mohamed Kibao, a seasoned veteran of Tanzania’s political landscape, had a storied career that spanned multiple parties, including the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and various opposition groups, before ultimately joining Chadema. His background as a retired military intelligence officer added a unique dimension to his political work.
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According to John Mrema, Chadema’s director of communication and foreign affairs, Ali Mohamed Kibao was a dedicated party member who had been actively involved with the organization since 2008. Mrema revealed that Kibao was 69 years old at the time of his tragic death.
In a statement, the police assured the public that they are actively pursuing a thorough investigation into the tragic incident, pledging to leave no stone unturned in their quest for justice. Those responsible, they vowed, will be held accountable for their actions.
Fears are mounting among rights groups and opposition voices that Tanzania is sliding back into the dark days of John Magufuli’s presidency, characterized by iron-fisted rule and stifling of dissent. The recent crackdown on opposition figures has raised concerns about a resurgence of oppressive policies.
President Hassan’s pledge to restore “competitive politics” and ease restrictions on opposition parties and the media appears to be at odds with the recent wave of arrests. The move has sparked skepticism about the government’s sincerity, despite its decision to lift a six-year ban on opposition rallies.
