Tanzania’s High Court halts main opposition party Chadema activities temporarily, freezes assets

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Tanzania’s High Court halts main opposition party Chadema activities temporarily, freezes assets

9:34 CAT | 11 Jun 2025

File photo: Mwanzo TV

The High Court of Tanzania has temporarily suspended opposition party CHADEMA from carrying out any internal or executive activities for 14 days, pending a full hearing of a lawsuit filed by former party leaders.

The applicants claim that the current CHADEMA leadership has violated the party’s constitution and political party laws.

They asked the court to suspend all party activities until the main case is heard on June 24, 2025.

The court granted the injunction in the absence of CHADEMA’s legal representation, after their lawyer, Jebra Kambole, withdrew from the case citing the court’s failure to consider their arguments.

Tanzania’s High Court, under Judge Hamidu Mwanga, has suspended all activities of the country’s main opposition party, CHADEMA, and barred it from using its assets and properties, following complaints from Zanzibar-based CHADEMA members.

The order follows an application for an injunction by three applicants: Said Issa Mohamed, who served as CHADEMA’s Vice Chairperson from 2010 until January 2025 when the new leadership was elected; Ahmed Rashid, a member of CHADEMA’s Board of Trustees; and Maulidah Anna Komu, a former Vice Chairperson of the CHADEMA Board of Trustees.

The applicants argued that there is unequal allocation of the party’s resources, funds, and assets between Zanzibar and Tanganyika—the two entities that form the United Republic of Tanzania. They also claimed that members from Zanzibar are not provided equal opportunities within the party, and that there is discrimination based on religion, gender, and residency.

Following the petition, registered under Civil Cause Number 8323 of 2025, the applicants requested the court to temporarily suspend party activities while the main case is being heard—a request that was granted on June 10, 2025. The court ordered:

“That the respondents, the Registered Trustees of Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) and the General Secretary—Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), are restrained or prevented from organising and/or participating in any and/or all political activities pending the determination of the petition,” the court judgement reads.

“That the respondents, the Registered Trustees of Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) and the General Secretary—Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), their servants, workmen, agents, and or whosoever purporting to act on the Respondents’ behalf, are restrained from utilizing the properties and assets of the party pending determination of the petition,” the court judgement continued.

During the hearing, CHADEMA, represented by advocate Jebra Kambole, submitted seven objections—all of which were overruled by the court. Amid the proceedings, Advocate Kambole withdrew from representing CHADEMA in protest over how the case was being handled.

“This is just a normal case, but seeing that the ruling is coming out today, our objections are being heard today, their objections are being heard today, and even the main case of the application is intended to be heard today — this was not very fair to us,” said Advocate Kambole. “Because we have been handling this case and observing how things are progressing. Personally, I felt that I would not be doing justice to the party and its members, given the way the case is proceeding.”

“I informed the honorable judge that I am requesting to withdraw from this case so that the party can have time to bring in another lawyer, even if it’s just for tomorrow. But I see that the judge has completely failed to accept even this fundamental argument, which relates to the party’s right to be heard and the right to legal representation in this case,” Kambole explained.

In response, the court stated that Kambole’s withdrawal lacked a plausible explanation and appeared to be an attempt to delay the proceedings. The court proceeded with the matter in the absence of legal representation for CHADEMA.

“Regrettably, soon after the decision to strike out the counter affidavit, Respondents’ counsel, Mr. Jebra Kambole, who was present throughout the hearing of the POs, decided to abandon his representation of his clients without proffering any plausible explanation for his volte-face!” Judge Mwanga said.

“His conduct is unbecoming of an officer of the Court and evinces a cavalier disregard for the proceedings of the Court. The Court cannot countenance any plausible justification for his egregiously derelict and lackadaisical approach to his duties as an officer of the Court. It is clear that his abandonment of the representation of his clients at the tertiary stage of the proceedings is designed to scupper the smooth progress of the case,” he continued in his judgment.

The judgment comes as the CHADEMA chairperson remains in jail on treason charges, the party registrar has suspended subvention to the party, and the Electoral Commission has barred the party from participating in elections for the next five years, something that remains challenged at the court.

CHADEMA, whose leadership has been touring the country under the “No Reform, No Election” campaign, which has attracted thousands of supporters, called the court’s decision part of a broader effort to suppress democracy in Tanzania.

“CHADEMA considers this a grave threat to multiparty democracy and a dangerous signal of institutional collapse in the face of political pressure. We categorically reject the abuse of judicial processes to advance partisan interests and suppress opposition voices,” CHADEMA said in its statement.

The party has called for an emergency meeting to evaluate the ruling’s impact and determine its next steps. The hearing of the main petition will be held on June 24, 2025.

Source: Mwanzo TV /The Chanzo