Tanzania! High Court sets tight timeline in Chadema case, Man sentenced to death for killing mother, Irate crowd attacks and kills a Police Officer in Arusha, More than 500 people killed in Tanzania election violence, 60 Tanzanians Confirmed Detained at South African Repatriation Centre Amid Rising Anti-Immigrant Sentiment, Tundu Lissu’s personal assistant abducted in Dar-es-salaam, Chinese factory owner killed by his own security guards in Tanzania | suspects disappear with cash worth USD 3800, Dar Police nab four Chinese nationals for kidnapping their fellow businessmen, Four Chinese Nationals Arrested in Tanzania Over $20 Million Kidnapping Extortion Plot, Watoto wawili wauawa Mara chanzo imani ya kishirikina, Tanzania opposition leader returns to court for treason trial after monthslong delay, ‘Notorious Tanzanian drug trafficker’ arrested during raid in Zambia, Tanzania Police detain opposition politician over incitement allegations, Tanzanian journalist Erick Kabendera leaves Tanzanian court after being accused of money laundering tax evasion and organised crime, Protests in Tanzania spread after a disputed election with the military on the streets, Buffalo kills villager in Serengeti

2026.5.27 Man sentenced to death for killing mother
KAGERA: THE High Court has sentenced Adolf Daudi, a resident of Nyamilanda Village in Muleba District, to death by hanging after convicting him of murdering his mother.
The prosecution, led by Senior State Attorney Edith Tuka assisted by State Attorneys Emmanuel Kimey and Ray Mirambo, called six witnesses to support the case.
Court records show that on December 23, 2024, at around 2:00 am, the late Coretha Daudi was sleeping in her house at Nyamilanda Village when a group of attackers stormed the house and assaulted her.
Mr Josephat Daudi, identified in court as PW1, testified that he was awakened by his mother’s screams and rushed to the scene. He told the court he clearly recognised the accused, his younger brother Adolf, because there was enough light from a solar lamp.
According to the witness, the accused used a stick to assault the deceased and continued beating her until she died. The testimony was corroborated by another witness, Ms Biligitha Protase (PW2), who told the court that Adolf, her uncle, was clearly identified during the attack.
Evidence presented before the court showed that after the killing, the accused fled the scene but later returned wearing different clothes in an attempt to conceal his involvement.
The prosecution said the killing was linked to a land dispute. Before delivering the sentence, former Bukoba High Court Judge Immaculata Banzi said the prosecution had proved Criminal Case No 10980/2025 beyond reasonable doubt.
“PW1 and PW2 were credible witnesses and there is no plausible reason to disbelieve them on evidence of recognition,” she said.
Judge Banzi added that the conviction considered the weapon used, the force applied, the body parts targeted and the injuries inflicted on the deceased. She was recently promoted to the Court of Appeal by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

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2026.5.26 Four Chinese Nationals Arrested in Tanzania Over $20 Million Kidnapping Extortion Plot
Police rescue two businessmen held for ransom in Dar es Salaam, exposing a sophisticated criminal network involving foreign nationals.
Dar es Salaam – Police here have arrested four Chinese nationals in connection with the kidnapping and extortion of two fellow Chinese businessmen, marking a significant operation against organised crime involving foreign nationals operating in Tanzania.
The suspects—Fan Zhong (49), Deng Anging (49), Zhang Jianjun (51), and Deng Qiang (40)—were apprehended following investigations into the abduction of Weiyi Chen (64) and Liang Xiolo (44), who were held for a US$20 million ransom demand.
According to Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Jumanne Muliro, the victims were ambushed and abducted from the PSSSF Twin Towers in Dar es Salaam on May 14, 2026, at approximately 1:30 am.
A group of seven individuals forcibly took the businessmen to an undisclosed location, after which the suspects contacted their relatives demanding US$20 million (approximately Sh52.2 billion) for their release.
Police launched a rescue operation on May 16, 2026, successfully locating and freeing the victims in the Mbezi Beach area of Kinondoni District.
Both men were found with injuries on various parts of their bodies, indicating they had been subjected to physical abuse during their captivity.
One of the victims, Weiyi Chen, remained hospitalised at Agakhan Hospital in Dar es Salaam following the rescue, with his condition described as serious. The other victim received treatment at the same facility.
Police investigations revealed that the kidnapping was a carefully planned and executed operation.
Officers identified two vehicles used in the crime: a Toyota Alphard with registration number T305 DRA, whose plates were found to be irregular, and a Toyota Harrier bearing registration number T188 DHT.
Muliro disclosed that the suspects employed sophisticated communication methods to coordinate the kidnapping and extortion.
They utilised multiple mobile phones before and after the operation, then discarded them and switched to other devices and SIM cards to avoid detection.
“They were using four phones before and after the incident, but after committing the crime, they discarded them and switched to other phones,” Muliro told a press conference.
“This was a well-planned and executed crime, but a criminal is a criminal and crime does not pay.”
Following intensive investigations, police arrested the four suspects. Officers recovered the victims’ mobile phones and other exhibits linked to the crime. The suspects have been interrogated and are providing information to assist ongoing investigations.
Muliro confirmed that the suspects had threatened the victims’ relatives before the kidnapping, indicating a pattern of premeditation. The kidnappers specifically instructed relatives on how to deliver the ransom.
The police commander noted that investigations into the kidnapping are continuing, and anyone implicated in the case will face legal action in accordance with due process.
“Anyone implicated in the case will face legal action as police continue to follow due process in both investigation and prosecution,” Muliro stated.
Muliro also referenced other serious crimes under investigation in Dar es Salaam, including the killing of businessman Baozang Ge, owner of XIL LI plastic recycling factory in Mabibo Sokoni, as well as the kidnapping of David Djumbe, an assistant to CHADEMA chairman Tundu Lissu.
He indicated that investigations into those cases are ongoing and the public will be informed once suspects are apprehended.
Muliro urged members of the public to continue cooperating with police by providing timely and accurate information to help curb crime in society.
“We thank citizens who have been providing true information,” he said. “Some of it has helped prevent crime, and others have helped us arrest those involved in criminal activities.”
“We continue to thank those who provide true information, which has enabled us to carry out our basic duty of preventing crime.”

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2026.5.25 60 Tanzanians Confirmed Detained at South African Repatriation Centre Amid Rising Anti-Immigrant Sentiment
Tanzania confirms that over 60 of its citizens are being held at the Lindela Repatriation Centre, as South Africa faces mounting criticism over its crackdown on African migrants.
Tanzania’s High Commission in Pretoria has confirmed that 60 of its citizens are currently being held at the Lindela Repatriation Centre in South Africa. The nationals were detained for allegedly living in the country without valid permits, according to High Commissioner James Bwana.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on May 24, the embassy responded to a tip from user @DuniaSlaveDunia regarding the arrests. Officials visited the centre on May 19 and identified the detained Tanzanians, all of whom were issued Emergency Travel Documents (ETD).
The confirmation comes amidst a broader and increasingly violent crackdown on African immigrants in South Africa. This phenomenon, which critics and human rights advocates have termed “afrophobia,” primarily targets people of African descent before any other communities.
Vigilante groups and citizen-led movements, such as March and March and Operation Dudula, have recently intensified their campaigns against undocumented migrants. In April and May 2026, these groups organised demonstrations in major cities like Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Durban, resulting in violent and sometimes fatal attacks against foreign nationals.
These groups frequently scapegoat African and Asian immigrants for South Africa’s economic struggles, including an unemployment rate exceeding 43 per cent, high crime rates, and poor service delivery. However, studies consistently disprove these claims, showing that migrants are not the root cause of these systemic issues.
The deteriorating situation has prompted strong diplomatic reactions from other African nations. The government of Ghana recently summoned the South African ambassador to demand an explanation for the treatment of Ghanaian and other African nationals.

2026.5.20 Chinese factory owner killed by his own security guards in Tanzania | suspects disappear with cash worth USD 3800
A Chinese investor has, reportedly, been killed by his own members of staff in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania.
According to an official statement from the Tanzania Police Force, the Chinese National, identified as Bhaozang Ge, a resident of Dar-es-salaam city, died in the late night of May 17, 2026, after being attacked by some suspects.
Whoever killed the Chinese national, also managed to disappear with a bag of money containing 10 million/- Tanzanian currencies, equivalent to USD 3800.
The 50-year-old, Bhaozang Ge, was a businessman who owned and operated at a plastic bottle recycling and manufacturing plant known as Xil Li which is based at the Mabibo Ward of Ubungo District in Dar-es-salaam.
Some employees at the plant say the night guards, who are believed to have been two or three Maasai warriors left the premises in the late hours of the night and later on their boss was discovered dead.
So far, the police report also confirms that the late Bhaozang Ge was attacked and beaten up by security personnel at his own factory in Mabibo area.
However, the cause of the attacks is still not known and no suspects have been arrested so far, though the police say they are investigating the matter.
Without mentioning the name of the firm, earlier reports from the area had claimed that the Chinese industrialist could have been killed by guards belonging to a private security company which had been commissioned to protect the Xil Li factory premises in Dar-es-salaam.
However, it turned out that Bhaozang had hired his own security people, suspected to have been locals, possibly Maasai or Konde guards.
“Many local guards nowadays adorn Maasai shukas’ attires, so it doesn’t necessarily mean the killers could have been Morans,” says an observer.
The incident reportedly occurred at around 2 hours after midnight, which means the Chinese investor could have gone to the factory at that time of the night or maybe was staying there as typical of most Asian business people.
The Chinese factory owner was found with a deep wound on the head, which means he could have been slashed with something sharp before his body was concealed at one corner of his factory.

2026.4.23 More than 500 people killed in Tanzania election violence, inquiry finds
A total of 518 people died in Tanzania from “unnatural causes”, including 197 who were shot dead, in the widespread protests that followed last year’s general election, the commission of inquiry set up to investigate the violence has announced.
However, commission chairman Mohamed Chande Othman did not say who was responsible for the deaths, recommending further investigations.
This is the first time the authorities have said how many people died.
Opposition parties and human rights groups had previously accused the security forces of unleashing a brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters, killing thousands.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner of the 29 October poll with 98% of the vote – which the opposition described as a “mockery” of democracy after her main challengers were excluded.
At the time, the president said the election was fair and transparent and blamed foreigners for the violence, saying it was part of a plot to overthrow her.
International observers, however, last year raised concerns over the lack of transparency in the vote, with the African Union and the southern Africa bloc Sadc saying the election had fallen short of democratic standards.
Last year, the BBC verified multiple videos of police shooting towards groups of protesters. Footage posted online showed that demonstrators were confronted by heavily armed police units blocking their progress and firing tear gas to disperse crowds. In many of the videos, gunfire can clearly be heard as people scatter in the ensuing chaos.
The scale of Tanzania’s election violence was shocking for a nation that had cultivated an image of calm, consensus and order for nearly six decades.

2026.4.16 Irate crowd attacks and kills a Police Officer in Arusha
A crowd of angry people is alleged to have chased, attacked, beaten up and eventually killed a police officer in Arusha.
The deceased, identified as Roland Mollel, was reportedly killed on the night of April 15, 2026 at the Muriet Ward, South of Arusha City.
The policeman is said to have been on his way home, when a gang of irate people accosted him and his mate, chased the duo and then started beating them, claiming they were among the robbery suspects who had just terrorized the precinct a few hours before.
The Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SACP) Justine Masejo confirmed the incident, adding that the saga occurred at the Mlimani street of Muriet Ward in the outskirts of Arusha Urban District.
SACP Masejo, who is also the Arusha Regional Police Commander, explained that the late Roland Mollel who was one of the police officers in the precinct, had just accomplished his daily duties at the station and was on the way home when disaster struck.
As it happens, there had been a robbery incident in the area that afternoon and the angry residents were patrolling the area looking for the culprits, when they came upon the policeman and another man, both riding on a motorcycle.
Some reports say, the police officer had actually hired the motorbike to take him home, while others claim that the late cop and the other person on the saddle were either friends or neighbors, escorting each other home.
Suddenly! A crowd of irate people started chasing them, shouting and swearing.
It seems some members of the community mistook the two riders as part of the criminals who had wreaked havoc in the precinct earlier on.
And according to observers, the police officer was in his ordinary civilian clothes, plus it was already dark, when the angry crowd descended on them.
According to the Arusha Regional Police Commander, RPC, Justine Masejo, already six suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.
“But we are also still looking for others who could have taken part in the attack against the police officer,” Masejo added.
It is still not known what could have happened to the motorcycle rider who had carried the late Mollel.

2026.2.12 Watoto wawili wauawa Mara, chanzo imani ya kishirikina
Watoto wawili wa familia moja wamefariki katika tukio la mauaji lililotokea Kijiji cha Rung’abure, Wilaya ya Serengeti, mkoani Mara, ambapo chanzo kinadaiwa ni imani za kishirikina.
Watoto hao ni Mwikwabe Saina (10), mwanafunzi wa darasa la tatu, na Joseph Saina (4). Tukio hilo lilitokea Februari 10, 2026 majira ya saa 11 alfajiri katika Kitongoji cha Getasamo, Kata ya Rung’abure.
Kwa mujibu wa Jeshi la Polisi Mkoa wa Mara, watoto hao walishambuliwa kwa kuchomwa na kitu chenye ncha kali, huku mtuhumiwa akitajwa kuwa Joseph Marwa (18), mkazi wa eneo hilo.
Uchunguzi wa awali umeeleza kuwa mtuhumiwa alimtuhumu mama wa watoto hao kujihusisha na vitendo vya kishirikina, akidai anawaloga ndugu zake.
Baada ya tukio, wananchi walimkamata mtuhumiwa na kuanza kumshambulia kwa fimbo na mawe kabla ya kuokolewa na Polisi. Alipata majeraha makubwa na kupelekwa Hospitali ya Rufaa ya Wilaya ya Nyerere (DDH) Mugumu kwa matibabu, ambako alifariki dunia.
Jeshi la Polisi limesema linaendelea na uchunguzi wa kina na kwamba hatua za kisheria zitachukuliwa kwa yeyote atakayebainika kuhusika.

2026.2.4 ‘Notorious Tanzanian drug trafficker’ arrested during raid in Zambia
A “notorious” Tanzanian drug-trafficking kingpin has been arrested in Zambia during a raid, the Zambian Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has announced.
Ahmed Muharram was among several suspects detained in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, along with large quantities of marijuana and cough syrup containing codeine in several drug busts on Tuesday, the authorities said.
“The suspect is a known transnational drug trafficker,” the DEC said, adding that the 40-year-old had long been on the anti-drug agency’s watch-list.
The arrest of Muharram, who has not yet commented, was made possible thanks to a series of intelligence-led operations, the agency said.
Under Zambian law, marijuana is classed as a dangerous drug and is illegal to possess.
The trafficking, possession and use of illegal drugs such as cannabis is punishable by a fine or a prison sentence.
The southern Africa country struggles with drug abuse and trafficking, especially cannabis and heroin.

2025.12.10 Buffalo kills villager in Serengeti

An angry buffalo is reported to have stomped a farmer to death in a horrid incident which occurred at Wegete Village of Serengeti District in ​Mara Region.

The deceased was identified as Marungu Chacha Ruhuro, a local male peasant and former resident of Manuna Village in Serengeti​, within the Lake Victoria Zone of Tanzania.

He was, reportedly, the second victim of the animal which earlier on had attacked and wounded another person in a nearby village.

The buffalo which attacked and killed the farmer, was later hunted down by game rangers who killed it, leaving the irate villagers to divide the animal’s carcass among themselves for meat.

Juma Samuel Sabuda is the Chairperson of Wegete, the village where the incident occurred and who confirmed that, the deceased, Chacha Ruhuro met his fate on the Independence Day of 9th December 2025.

According to the Chairperson, a buffalo which possibly could have strayed from the nearby Serengeti National Park, invaded the nearby villages and the local residents were trying to drive the animal away.

“It was about 11.00 am in morning when the large buffalo appeared in the village, causing panic among residents, especially women and children who shouted for help,” said Sabuda.

During that instance a group of men organized themselves in a team which then started to chase the animal away from the residential areas, attempting to drive it back to the reserve.

However, the irritated buffalo fought back by hitting one of the men, Marungu Chacha with its horns, lifting him up before throwing the victim on the ground and proceeding to trudge him.

Chacha was still alive when the buffalo finally left him, but he died later while receiving medical treatment at the Village Dispensary.

The village chairperson later phoned the Serengeti District Wildlife officers, who hunted down the buffalo and managed to shoot it to death.

The Serengeti District’s Wildlife Department promised to foot the bills related to the burial process for the deceased, the late Marungu Chacha.

2025.10.28 Tanzanian journalist Erick Kabendera, author of ‘In the Name of the President’, leaves Tanzanian court after being accused of money laundering, tax evasion and organised crime.