MWE Correspondent
After spending nearly two weeks in police custody, Tanzania’s opposition figure John Heche, the Vice Chairman of the Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), is expected to appear in court soon to face terror-related charges, his lawyer confirmed on Tuesday night, November 4, 2025.
Heche, who had been detained in Dodoma, was transferred to Dar es Salaam earlier in the day, where his legal team said they were informed by police that he faces two serious allegations. According to his attorney, Hekimu Mwasipu, the first charge accuses Heche of involvement in terrorism-related activities between the Kimara and Magomeni areas, while the second claim links him to similar acts around Msewe and External.
Speaking to the press outside Oysterbay Police Station, Mwasipu explained that Heche has chosen to exercise his constitutional right to remain silent during interrogation and will issue his statement only once he is formally presented in court.
“We were called by the Deputy ZCO who informed us that Mr. Heche would need legal representation while recording his statement. When I arrived at Oysterbay, he was already there. He signed basic personal information forms but declined to give any statement. He’s now being held at Mburahati Police Station, and we expect he could be arraigned as early as Wednesday,” said Mwasipu.
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Heche’s arrest and the charges he faces have stirred debate among Tanzanians, with many viewing the development as part of a larger trend of shrinking political freedoms and intensified pressure on the opposition. Over the past few years, the government has faced criticism from international human rights organizations for its handling of dissent and its broad application of national security laws.
The lawyer urged CHADEMA members and citizens to remain calm, emphasizing that “it is within the police’s mandate to accuse anyone they suspect, but only a court of law can determine guilt.”
Political analysts say the case could become a defining moment for Tanzania’s justice system, testing its commitment to fairness, transparency, and respect for due process. For many observers, how the courts handle Heche’s trial will either reaffirm or undermine public confidence in the rule of law.
Meanwhile, CHADEMA leaders have vowed to continue calling for democratic reforms and political accountability, describing Heche’s arrest as politically motivated.
