Government Critic Humphrey Polepole Abducted in Tanzania

A former Tanzanian ambassador and outspoken government critic, Humphrey Polepole, has been abducted by unknown individuals in what can only be described as another example of the government’s increasingly repressive approach to dissent. The alleged abduction occurred in the early hours of Monday, at his home in Dar es Salaam.

“We went to the house where he was living and found the door broken, electric wires cut, and a large amount of blood spilled,” said Godfrey Polepole, the younger brother of the former ambassador. Videos of the incident have since circulated online.  The family was said to have reported the matter after visiting the residence. Dar es Salaam police chief, Jumanne Muliro, said officers were following up on the incident but appeared to question the account, claiming that the former ambassador to Cuba often said he was out of the country.

National police spokesperson David Misime said authorities had seen the reports online and were investigating. He added that Polepole was still expected to respond to police summons and record a statement regarding a series of allegations he had made since resigning in July.

Polepole resigned from his ambassadorial post earlier this year after publicly criticising the government, stating that he could no longer serve an administration that disrespects justice, the rule of law, and constitutional principles. President Samia Suluhu Hassan later revoked his appointment, formally stripping him of his diplomatic status. Since his resignation, Polepole has made several online claims accusing senior government officials and security agencies of intimidation and corruption. He alleged that armed individuals had been seen loitering near his home and harassing his family, and that his residence had been raided twice, with no progress made in subsequent investigations.

Last month, the Tanzanian police opened a file against him, saying his public statements could amount to criminal offences. He was directed to report to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for questioning. The alleged abduction comes weeks before Tanzania’s general elections, scheduled for 29 October, amid growing tension over political restrictions.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan is seeking a second and final term after first taking office in 2021 following the death of President John Magufuli. While she was initially praised for easing some of her predecessor’s hardline policies, her administration has in recent months come under criticism for tightening its grip on political opposition and the press. The main opposition party, Chadema, has been banned from participating in the elections, and its leader, Tundu Lissu, remains in detention. The candidate of the second-largest opposition party, ACT-Wazalendo, Luhaga Mpina, has also been disqualified, leaving President Samia to face only minor-party candidates.

The judiciary has also faced scrutiny after a Tanzanian court banned live broadcasts of Tundu Lissu’s treason trial, a move that rights groups say undermines transparency and due process. The ban has been widely condemned by civil society organisations, who argue that open trials are essential to ensuring public trust in the judiciary especially in politically sensitive cases. Critics warn that restricting access to such proceedings allows the state to control narratives and limit accountability, reinforcing concerns that the justice system is being used as a tool to silence opposition voices.

Taken together, the suppression of opposition parties, the detention of political leaders, and the disappearance of government critics like Polepole suggest a growing pattern of intimidation in Tanzania’s political space. The developments suggest a return to the tight political control of the Magufuli era, sparking concerns that the coming election may be shaped more by fear and state influence than by open competition.