Chadema vice chairman John Heche now says the manner in which he was picked and handled was a clear case of abduction.

In a candid elaboration on what transpired when dozens of police officers dramatically arrested him while addressing a political rally in Kariakoo market, Heche said the officers took him around the city roads for almost 3 hours without taking him to a police station.

‘’We were abducted by police. Later, I saw Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Jumanne Muliro saying no one had arrested them. Now ask yourselves, police moved around with us in their vehicle, claiming they were taking us to Msimbazi police station, which they didn’t,” Narrated Hache.

At Msimbazi Police station, Heche and other Chadema party officials were never booked

‘’They then bundled us into a Hilux vehicle and told us they were taking us to the central police station. Upon reaching the central police station, the car made a sharp U-turn and took the expressway. We were speedily driven up to Kisutu. At Kisutu, they ordered that all our cars’ sirens be put off. We then took the JagwanI Road, so I thought they were taking us to Mburahati police station, again, we were not booked. They kept on moving around with us and later dropped us off on the road at 8 PM.

Heche said that when he was dropped off at night, he had lost his phone and some money.

‘’To me, this was a clear abduction,’’ said a frustrated Heche

No statement was recorded from Heche, nor charged with anything. The firebrand Chadema Vice chairman was on Tuesday picked up by police officers while in a political campaign in Kariakoo, Dar es Salaam

Heche’s arrest comes just a fortnight after the Chadema party leader, Tundu Lissu, was also arrested while addressing a political rally in Mbinga area in Ruvuma Region.

Lissu was later charged with treason and denied bail. He is currently in police custody. He will be arraigned in court on 24th April 2025.

Already, Chadema has been disqualified from the upcoming general election scheduled for October 2025.