A senior official of Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, John Pambalu, has been charged with treason, an offence punishable by death, amid a crackdown on government critics following the October 2025 general election.
Pambalu, a member of the party’s National Council and former leader of its youth wing, was charged on Wednesday over allegations that he intended to persuade the public to disrupt the 2025 general election.
The charge sheet also accused him of organising prolonged protests to intimidate the executive arm of the Tanzanian Government.
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His prosecution comes amid growing concerns over the treatment of opposition figures following the October 2025 election, which was marred by widespread protests that were violently suppressed.
Pambalu is the second Chadema official to face treason charges after the party’s leader, Tundu Lissu, whose trial is expected to conclude soon.
Chadema Deputy Chairperson John Heche confirmed the charges at a public meeting in the northern city of Arusha.
Heche said he expected the authorities to bring similar charges against him but vowed to remain in the country. He also pledged that the party would continue its resistance.
Chadema was excluded from the October 2025 election, which President Samia Suluhu Hassan officially won with 98 per cent of the vote.
Opposition figures and human rights groups estimate that about 2,000 people were killed by police and security forces during the post-election protests.
However, an inquiry established by President Hassan, which the opposition criticised as biased, put the death toll at 518 without identifying those responsible for the violence.
Hassan assumed office in March 2021 following the death of former President John Magufuli and was initially praised for easing restrictions on the opposition and the media.
However, opposition groups now accuse her administration of returning to the repressive policies associated with her predecessor.
Africanews
