Tanzanian police have launched an investigation into reports that former ambassador Humphrey Polepole—now a vocal critic of the government—was abducted from his home in Dar es Salaam early Monday.
According to his brother, Godfrey Polepole, unknown assailants allegedly broke into the house before taking him away. “The main door and bedroom door were broken,” he told Reuters, adding that bloodstains were found from the sitting room to the gate.
Police spokesperson David Misime confirmed that authorities had seen the reports shared by family members on social media and had begun investigating to “ascertain the truth.” Government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa has not yet commented on the incident.
Polepole resigned as Tanzania’s ambassador to Cuba in July and has since become an outspoken critic of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, frequently accusing it of corruption, internal rule violations, and intimidation of dissenters.
Opposition groups allege that several critics of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration have gone missing since last year, suggesting a pattern of politically motivated abductions ahead of the October 29 election. Although President Hassan ordered an investigation into similar allegations in 2023, no findings have been made public.
The government recently rejected a Human Rights Watch report claiming a pre-election crackdown, saying the alleged abductions were “a major source of concern” being actively addressed.
The incident also comes as the government faces scrutiny over the ongoing trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who was arrested in April and charged with treason for allegedly inciting public rebellion through a speech. Lissu has pleaded not guilty, describing the case as politically driven.
Source:Africa Publicity
