TANZANIA’s Presdident Samia Suluhu Hassan has denounced the brutal killing of a senior member of the main opposition party Chadema, who was kidnapped, beaten and doused with acid.
On Friday, Mohamed Ali Kibao, 69, was forced off a bus by suspected security agents while travelling from the country’s biggest city, Dar es Salaam, to his hometown Tanga.
The post-mortem found that Mr Kibao had been “severely beaten and had acid poured on his face”, party chairman Freeman Mbowe told the AFP news agency.
His death comes amid concern by the opposition and rights groups of a clampdown on political activity.
President Samia condemned the “brutal acts” and called for an investigation into the murder.
“I have ordered the investigation agencies to bring me detailed information about this terrible incident and others like this as soon as possible,” she said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“Our country is a democracy, and every citizen has the right to live,” she added.
Hundreds turned out for Mr Kibao’s funeral in Tanga, where people called for Home Affairs Minister Hamad Masauni to step down as he tried to address the mourners.
“Where is the government? People are being abducted and [there is] no action. Minister Masauni resign, resign, resign,“ they shouted.
Mr Mbowe, who was also at the funeral, intervened, urging the crowd to allow the minister to complete his speech.
