- Authorities in Tanzania have detained opposition leader John Wegesa Heche at Isibania Border Station as he was preparing to cross into Kenya for Raila Odinga’s funeral.
- CHADEMA accused the government of political persecution after Heche’s passport was seized and his trip to Kenya was suddenly blocked
- Heche was to lead the delegation of the party representing CHADEMA leader Tundu Lissu who was denied a travel permit due to ongoing treason allegations.
- Lissu, speaking from court, asked to attend Raila’s funeral, requesting that he be allowed to travel even under arrest
Leader of the opposition in the country Tanzania John Wegesa Heche has been arrested and detained at Isibania One Stop Border.
Source: Facebook
The opposition leader was reportedly detained while trying to cross into Kenya for the funeral of former prime minister Raila Amolo Odinga.
Heche, the Deputy Chairman of the main opposition party in Tanzania, CHADEMA, was detained by the Tanzanian authorities at around two o’clock in the morning as he was preparing to lead a delegation to represent the party at Raila’s funeral there BondoSiaya county, Sunday, October 19.
In its statement issued later that afternoon, CHADEMA confirmed the arrest of the people, accusing the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and the Government of President Samia Suluhu of political persecution.
The party said immigration officials not only detained Heche but also confiscated his passport without explanation.
“The government of Chama Cha Mapinduzi has detained the Deputy Chairman of the Party, Mr. John Wegesa Heche. Preventing Mr. Heche from traveling to send condolences to the people of Kenya is denying the people of that country their right to sympathy during tragedies,” CHADEMA’s Communications and Propaganda Director, Brenda Rupia said.
Rupia demanded Heche’s immediate release, insisting that the move violates his constitutional right to travel, as guaranteed under Article 17(1) of the Tanzanian Constitution.
“We ask the Government of Tanzania to release Hon. Heche immediately and stop harassing the leaders of our party by denying them their constitutional right to leave and enter the country,” Rupees added.
Who did Heche’s message represent?
Heche’s arrest came after CHADEMA announced that he would lead a team of senior party leaders to Raila’s funeral.
The team included the former Member of Parliament of the state, Godbless Lema, and Boniface Jacob, the leader of the party in Pwani region.
Their mission was to represent the leader of the CHADEMA party, Tundu Lissu, who is currently facing a case of treason in the Dodoma court.
Source: Facebook
Lissu had called the President Samia Solution Hassan and the court allowed him to attend Raila’s funeral.
“I am asking you to allow me to attend the funeral of my friend Raila in Kenya. Even if it means traveling in handcuffs here and there, please allow me to see Raila’s body,” Lissu pleaded during the trial.
How did Binti Magufuli cry for Raila?
In a related report, Jesca Magufuli, the daughter of the late Tanzanian president John PombeMagufuli, paid tribute to Raila Odinga following his death.
He shared a video of the visit he made to Odinga and his wife earlier this year.
During the visit, Raila blessed him in his political journey and expressed his wishes for his success in Tanzania.
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