Fear and uncertainty have driven a group of Tanzanian opposition figures to flee their country and seek refuge in Kenya. What they describe is a desperate escape from a system they believe no longer tolerates dissenting voices.
The group, made up of members and supporters of the CHADEMA party, arrived in Nairobi on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, saying they had no choice but to leave after months of threats, harassment, and violence.
Among them is Rose Mayemba, a CHADEMA committee member who says life in Tanzania has become unbearable for those who question or criticize the government. She spoke of an alarming wave of abductions and killings targeting opposition supporters and young activists.
According to her, the situation has gone far beyond normal political clashes.
“Walikuwa hawaui watu tu ambao wameandamana, kulikuwa na polisi na watu ambao wamevalia nguo ya kawaida wanaenda vyumba vya watu wanagonga mlango mnatoka nje, ukikutwa ni kijana unauawa, ni zaidi ya maandamano,” Mayemba said.
Her words reveal a chilling reality one where fear has replaced freedom, and citizens live with the constant worry of being targeted simply for their political beliefs.
Mayemba’s story mirrors the growing sense of hopelessness among Tanzanian opposition circles. Many within CHADEMA say the government’s actions are aimed at completely silencing opposition voices. Their fears deepened earlier this week when treason charges against CHADEMA leader Tundu Lissu were postponed, a move that many interpreted as a political warning to his followers.
Several of them believe the delay was not a sign of due process but a tactic to keep the opposition in constant fear and confusion.
John Pambalu, CHADEMA’s Director of Training, expressed deep frustration at what he called a brutal and oppressive government.
“Taifa la Tanzania linapitia ponde la uvuli wa mauti, utawala wa Rais Samia tangu alivyoingia madarakani umekuwa wa kinyama sana, mamia wa vijana wa Tanzania wametegwa na kuuawa kinyama sana,” he said.
His words reflect a belief among many Tanzanian opposition figures that the government has abandoned the values of democracy and human rights, choosing instead to rule through fear.
The group now hopes that the Kenyan government and the international community will grant them protection as they await a safer future.
They warn that many more of their colleagues are still trapped in Tanzania, afraid to speak out or flee. Their arrival in Nairobi adds to the growing concern about Tanzania’s political direction and the state of its civil liberties.
Human rights groups are expected to push regional leaders to address these allegations before the situation worsens further, as the voices of those who fled continue to echo across the border, calling for justice and safety.
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