CHADEMA Under Siege: Intelligence Briefing on Tanzania’s Temporary Political Shutdown and Orchestrated Violence
Ujasusi Blog’s East Africa Monitoring Team | 10 June 2025 | 0130 BST
Executive Summary
On 10 June 2025, the High Court of Tanzania issued a temporary injunction barring CHADEMA—the country's leading opposition party—from engaging in any operational or political activities, pending the hearing of a case alleging systematic marginalisation of Zanzibar within the party’s internal structure. The injunction, granted without CHADEMA’s legal representation present, coincides with a surge in targeted violence against the party’s leadership, most notably an attempted disruption of a public rally in Igunga.
This briefing analyses the judicial decision, situates it within Tanzania's broader political and intelligence landscape, and evaluates the emerging patterns of coordination between state-linked actors and civilian groups to destabilise opposition activities. The report also considers the implications of these developments for Tanzania’s political future, particularly as the No Reforms, No Election campaign continues to gain traction nationwide.