MWE Correspondent
The mysterious disappearance of former diplomat Humphrey Polepole took a new twist today after the High Court in Dar es Salaam heard a plea from his defence lawyers seeking to allow oral testimony from his sister, Christina Polepole.
Appearing before Principal Judge Salma Maghimbi, lead defence counsel Peter Kibatala told the court that Christina had come forward with new and urgent information. He said she was allegedly detained and assaulted on July 17, 2025, at her home in Bahari Beach by police officers led by Deputy Zonal Crime Officer George Byagemu. The officers, she claimed, interrogated her about her brother’s whereabouts just days after his reported abduction.
The defence’s urgent application, filed on October 7, lists several top government figures as respondents — including the Inspector General of Police, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Attorney General, and senior regional police officials.
Mr. Kibatala argued that Christina’s oral testimony could shed light on who might be holding Polepole and where he could be located. “This is not an ordinary procedural request,” he told the court. “The information she holds could be critical in determining the truth about Mr. Polepole’s disappearance.”
However, State Attorney Ayoub Sanga opposed the motion, insisting that the defence had already been given opportunities to submit additional affidavits and that the new request was simply an attempt to delay proceedings. The court did not issue an immediate ruling, opting instead to deliberate on the matter before making a decision in the coming days.
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Polepole, a former Tanzanian ambassador to Cuba, was reportedly abducted from his Ununio home on October 6, 2025. His family said they discovered signs of forced entry and traces of blood at the scene, sparking a national outcry and a police investigation.
The incident has since drawn sharp concern from human rights organizations, with several groups calling for transparency and accountability from law enforcement agencies. International watchdogs have warned that the case could signal a worrying escalation of enforced disappearances and political intimidation in Tanzania, especially in the tense period leading up to the October 29 general election.
In court, the atmosphere was tense as both sides presented their arguments. Supporters of the Polepole family gathered quietly outside, holding placards demanding justice and answers. Inside, Judge Maghimbi listened carefully, taking notes as Kibatala emphasized that time was of the essence.
“The court has a duty to act quickly,” he said. “Every passing day makes it harder to find out where Mr. Polepole might be.”
The State maintained its stance that the matter should proceed within procedural limits. But as the session adjourned, one thing was clear — the search for truth about what happened to Humphrey Polepole continues to grip the nation, raising deeper questions about human rights, justice, and accountability in Tanzania.
