On August 22, 2024, Freeman Mbowe, the Chairman of Tanzania’s Main Opposition Political Party (CHADEMA) held a press conference in Mikocheni, Dar es Salaam, where he raised concerns about recent abductions and called on the government to address the issues of the ongoing land dispute in Ngorongoro.
Mbowe highlighted the recent disappearance of Deusdedith Soka, a prominent Tanzanian youth activist and opposition party CHADEMA leader from Temeke, alongside two other CHADEMA members, Jacob Mlay and Frank Mbise.
According to Mbowe, the three were abducted by individuals in a blue Noah vehicle while on their way to a police station to retrieve Soka’s stolen motorcycle.
Speaking at the press conference, Mbowe expressed deep concern over the abductions, linking them to a pattern of extrajudicial killings in the country. He mentioned that victims in the past were often taken to mortuaries or left in remote areas, citing the example of Sativa, who was reportedly taken to Katavi and left to die in the wilderness.
Mbowe further claimed that activists Soka, Mlay, and Mbise were likely abducted by the same task force responsible for Sativa’s ordeal.
Mbowe called on the Tanzanian government to listen to the concerns of Ngorongoro residents and restore the essential services that had been withdrawn from the area. He emphasized the need for dialogue and peaceful resolution rather than the use of force.
In his appeal, Mbowe urged President Samia Suluhu to establish a judicial commission of inquiry to independently investigate all allegations of abductions and extrajudicial actions in the country.
“We are not angels, and we may have made mistakes, but if so, let us be arrested and taken to court to defend ourselves according to the law. The major problem is that the very same police force committing these crimes is the one investigating them,” Mbowe stated.
He also urged the President to disband the controversial task force within the security forces, as some members were allegedly involved in criminal activities under the guise of law enforcement.
Mbowe’s press conference highlighted the urgent need for government intervention to address both the issues in Ngorongoro and the rise in abductions in Tanzania. He called for justice and the protection of human rights, urging the government to take decisive action to restore public trust.
