Prominent Tanzanian human rights defender Maria Sarungi Tsehai has voiced her concerns after two of the main opposition party officials were detained on Saturday, July 12, 2025.
Taking to her social media page on Sunday, July 13, 2025, Tsehai decried what she termed a full-grown dictatorial regime under President Samia Suluhu.
According to the activist, CHADEMA communications director Brenda Rupia and Leonard Magere have all been detained by the authorities.
“This is not a coincidence. In one single day, two leaders from @ChademaTZ2 have been prevented from travelling, their passports confiscated, and now held incommunicado by police. When pressed, border officers say it is “orders from above”, which means @SuluhuSamia’s. Freedom of movement is now curtailed in a full-blown dictatorship,” she stated.
Her sentiments come hours after Chadema issued an update after claiming that Rupia was detained by Tanzanian authorities at the Namanga border while attempting to enter Kenya.
CHADEMA explained that Rupia was detained at Namanga, and later she was transferred to the Resident Coordinator’s Office in Arusha.
CHADEMA further added that Brenda Rupia was transported under heavy police surveillance to Dar es Salaam.
The party issued the statement while condemning President Samia Suluhu’s administration for blocking another opposition figure, Leonard Joseph Magere, who was scheduled to fly out to the UK.
“Leo hii, Bi Brenda Rupia, Mkurugenzi wa Mawasiliano na Uenezi wa Chadema, alizuiwa katika mpaka wa Namanga na kupelekwa ofisi ya RCO Arusha na baadaye kusafirishwa usiku huu kuelekea Dar es Salaam akiwa chini ya ulinzi wa vyombo vya dola,” the party’s statement read in part.
Detention
Earlier, CHADEMA had decried Rupia’s denied entry to Kenya and claimed that there was a plan to deport her. According to the party, Rupia was headed to Germany through Nairobi, where she had a scheduled meeting.
“We wish to inform the public that today, Saturday, July 12, 2025, our Director of Communications and Publicity, Ms Brenda Rupia, was denied entry into Kenya and is currently being detained by authorities at the Namanga border. We have received credible information that the authorities intend to forcibly deport her to Dar es Salaam,” the opposition revealed via its X page.
