DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (Chatnewstv.com) — On Human Rights Day 2025, the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) in Tanzania on Wednesday marked the occasion by releasing a 4 page report criticizing the government for a surge in rights violations following the highly contested October 2025 general election, including excessive force, arbitrary arrests and the suppression of free expression.
The report, titled with the theme “Our Everyday Essentials,” acknowledged Tanzania’s formal commitment to international human rights instruments, including the ratification of the Law on Human Rights and People’s Duties 2025/2026 and progress on accountability initiatives like Chapter 4R under the Chandler Good Government Index 2025.
However, the LHRC stated that the post-election period saw a disturbing trend of abuses, which overshadowed these legislative efforts.
“The year 2025 has also seen significant changes, particularly following the highly contested General Election,” the report stated. “There are many reports indicating human rights violations following the election, including excessive use of force, arbitrary arrests, unlawful detentions, and the suppression of freedom of expression.”
The report highlighted four main areas of concern:
Increased Conflict with Rights Defenders
The LHRC documented an escalation of conflict between state authorities and human rights defenders, especially journalists. Individuals speaking on political matters or human rights were subject to arrests and excessive force, sometimes leading to media outlets being fined or activists receiving temporary or permanent work bans.
The group noted that arrests and detentions often ignored proper arraignment procedures required by law.
“The procedure for arrest and arraignment in court, as outlined in the international standards adopted by Tanzania, does not comply with the provisions of our national laws, specifically the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) and the Police General Orders (PGO),” the LHRC wrote.
Fatalities in Custody and Excessive Force
The report detailed cases of individuals losing their lives while in police or vigilante custody. The LHRC stressed that official investigations into these deaths were either inadequate or non-existent.
During the October election, the use of excessive force was particularly severe, with police and vigilantes, or Wagambo, reportedly using live ammunition against protesters and bystanders. The violence resulted in multiple deaths and serious injuries.
“Reports from independent sources indicate that many people, including youth, were involved in the incidents, leading to some deaths and the imprisonment of others, which has caused distress,” the report said.
The group mentioned the case of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who was arrested and detained upon returning from exile.
Dropped Cases in Exchange for Lesser Charges
A key concern raised was the practice of government prosecutors dismissing charges for serious crimes on the condition that the accused plead guilty to a lesser offense. The LHRC warned that this practice undermines the rule of law.
This pattern was evident in politically sensitive cases. Opposition leader Tundu Lissu, for instance, had charges against him dropped after a political detention in April 2025. Other opposition figures, including Members of Parliament Bertha Karua and Boniface Mwangi, were released on bail conditions that restricted them from repeating the alleged offenses after their arrests related to the post-election violence.
The LHRC concluded that these incidents, including the police shooting death of Humphrey Polepole, have continued to fuel public dissatisfaction.
