THE body of Ally Kibao, a senior official of Tanzania’s main opposition party CHADEMA, was found on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam after his abduction by armed men. Kibao had been brutally beaten, and his face was disfigured with acid, according to party chairman Freeman Mbowe. Kibao was reported to have been abducted from a bus en route to Tanga, a northeastern port city, on Friday by two armed men.
This incident has sparked concerns about political repression, despite President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s efforts to ease restrictions since taking office. Kibao’s death may tarnish Hassan’s reformist image as she tries to distance herself from the authoritarian policies of her predecessor, John Magafuli.
President Hassan condemned the killing and ordered a full investigation into what she called an assassination, stating, ‘Our country is democratic and every citizen has the right to live.’ She emphasised her government’s commitment to justice, adding that such brutality would not be tolerated.
CHADEMA has called for a judicial inquiry into Kibao’s killing, alleging that members of the police force might be involved. The incident comes just a month after over 500 CHADEMA supporters were detained while attempting to hold a youth meeting in the country’s southwest, highlighting ongoing concerns about civil liberties.
Police have launched an investigation into Kibao’s murder, but opposition members demand stronger measures to ensure the safety of political figures and end the cycle of violence.
This tragic event has drawn attention to the fragile state of political freedoms in Tanzania, despite efforts at reform.
