Edgar Edson Mwakabela, whose mysterious disappearance sparked the
viral campaign #WhereIsSativa, has been found alive under shocking circumstances. Photo: Courtesy
Tanzania’s Crackdown: Abductions of Journalists and Activists Spark Global Outcry
By Adonis Byemelwa
In recent weeks, Tanzania has been shaken by a series of alarming events highlighting a disturbing trend of state-sanctioned intimidation and repression under Presidents Magufuli and Samia Suluhu Hassan’s regimes.
The cases of Edgar Edson Mwakabela and Erick Kabendera, both abducted under mysterious circumstances, have sparked widespread fear and outrage, shedding light on the precarious state of civil liberties and press freedom in the country.
Edgar Edson Mwakabela, whose mysterious disappearance sparked the viral campaign #WhereIsSativa, has been found alive under shocking circumstances. Mwakabela was revealed dumped in Katavi National Park, days after he went missing on June 23, 2024.
In a video that confirmed his survival, Mwakabela was seen sitting in distress, expressing pain from injuries sustained during captivity. “Please help me, my head hurts, my legs are swollen,” he pleaded with rescuers.
Upon his rescue and subsequent hospitalization, Mwakabela revealed harrowing details of his abduction.
He disclosed being taken to an unexpected location—the workshop at Oysterbay Police Station—where he was held overnight before being transported hundreds of kilometers across the country, first to Arusha and then to Katavi.
During his captivity, Mwakabela recounted being shot in the head, miraculously surviving as the bullet passed through his jaw.
The motives behind Mwakabela’s kidnapping remain unclear, though speculation on social media links it to his advocacy for traders’ rights and reported tensions with pro-government figures. Outrage has surged online following revelations that a police facility may have been involved in the abduction.
Politician Zitto Kabwe has demanded accountability, directly challenging law enforcement leadership. “How can a police station be complicit in such a crime? Citizens deserve safety, not torture,” Kabwe stated in a social media post directed at the Inspector General of Police.
The incident has sparked calls for an independent investigation into police accountability and immediate action against those responsible at Oysterbay Police Station.
Concerns over the safety of activists and outspoken individuals have intensified, with civil society groups and political figures calling for strengthened protections against such heinous acts. The incident has highlighted broader anxieties about the rule of law and the security of citizens, prompting calls for systemic reforms within law enforcement agencies.
Meanwhile, Mwakabela continues to recover from his ordeal, with medical attention focused on addressing his injuries sustained during captivity. His resilience in the face of adversity has galvanized public support, with messages of solidarity pouring in from across the nation.
As investigations unfold, the nation remains gripped by the shocking details of Mwakabela’s abduction and miraculous survival, with demands for justice and accountability echoing loudly in both social and traditional media platforms.
Erick Kabendera’s abduction on July 29, 2024, further underscored the regime’s ruthless crackdown on dissent. Kabendera, a fearless investigative journalist renowned for exposing human rights abuses and political corruption, was seized from his home in Dar es Salaam by armed men in unmarked vehicles.
Despite his prominent role in uncovering electoral fraud and other scandals, no formal charges or arrest warrants were issued against him. Instead, he was secretly detained in an undisclosed location, drawing international condemnation for his unlawful imprisonment.
These abductions are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern targeting journalists, opposition leaders, activists, and anyone perceived as a threat to the ruling establishment. Honorable Tundu Lissu, a prominent opposition figure and Member of Parliament was on frequent target of state harassment.
His relentless advocacy for democracy and human rights led to multiple arrests and a brazen assassination attempt in 2017, where he miraculously survived despite sustaining sixteen gunshot wounds. To date, the perpetrators remain unidentified, emblematic of the culture of impunity under President Magufuli’s rule.
International outcry has been swift and unequivocal. Calls for financial sanctions, travel bans, and visa restrictions against senior Tanzanian officials implicated in human rights abuses have intensified.
Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo Vice Chairman (Mainland) Tundu Lissu, speaking from firsthand experience of persecution, urged the global community to act decisively in holding accountable those responsible for state-sponsored violence and repression.
As Tanzania navigates these turbulent times, the integrity of its democratic institutions hangs in the balance. The systematic silencing of dissenting voices threatens to erode fundamental freedoms and civil liberties, casting a dark shadow over the country’s future.
The resilience shown by figures like Edgar Edson Mwakabela, Erick Kabendera, and Tundu Lissu in the face of adversity serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of speaking truth to power in authoritarian regimes.
The world watches closely as Tanzania confronts these challenges. The outcome will not only shape the country’s trajectory but also set a precedent for how international norms on human rights and democracy are upheld in the face of authoritarianism.
In the words of Erick Kabendera, silenced but not defeated, “Our voices will not be silenced. The pursuit of justice and freedom is relentless, and the world must stand with us in solidarity.”
