Soka, a vocal activist, gave his final media interview on August 16, 2024.Photo: Courtesy
By Adonis Byemelwa
Tanzania’s High Court issued a critical ruling on August 28, 2024, directing the police to investigate and locate activists Deusdedith Soka, Jacob Godwin Mlay, and Frank Mbise. Judge Wilfred Dyansobera emphasized, “The police must fulfill their duty to determine where these individuals are.” This decision highlights the judiciary's role in ensuring accountability and transparency, particularly in cases of alleged abduction.
Soka, a vocal activist, gave what would be his final media interview on August 16, 2024. During this conversation, he expressed his deep concerns about his safety. “They even want to take our lives too,” Soka lamented. “We are saying, you’ve taken everything, so please don’t abduct us or hurt us, just let us live our lives. They are taking us one by one like hawks snatching chickens.” His plea for protection highlighted the severe risks faced by those challenging the government.
Soka continued, “Let us live, let us see our loved ones, let us be happy, and let us have our rights. These rights are enshrined in our constitution and are international—basic rights to life.” His interview, which was nearly deferred due to precautionary measures he was taking, revealed his escalating fears. Raised by his grandmother and uncle Cyprian Soka after losing his parents, Soka had endured multiple arrests and even survived a prior attack.
On August 10, 2024, Soka was arrested and later released with other Chadema members. He confided to friends that a Good Samaritan had warned him of imminent danger. This fear was confirmed when he was abducted on August 18, 2024, along with Mlay and Mbise.
Soka had been summoned to check on his stolen motorcycle at the Chang’ombe Police Station, a move later described by Chadema Chairperson Freeman Mbowe as a trap designed to lure Soka.
Freddie Justine, a friend and fellow Chadema member, recounted his conversations with Soka. “I spoke with Soka before and after his interview. He was terrified of the dangers surrounding him, with threats at a level never seen before,” Justine said. This testimony highlights the gravity of the threats against Soka and the environment of fear in which activists operate.
On August 13, 2024, Soka had posted a troubling message on his X account. “The truth I will reveal before God, my activist friends, my fellow leaders, my brothers, relatives, friends, and everyone around the world, according to the information I have received, there is a plan to harm me and make me disappear completely,” he wrote. Soka added, “They have already started by identifying me by my face and where I live. The next step will be to quietly capture me and make me disappear. The reason is my radical stance. I encourage the youth; our God is alive and lives forever. If it happens, do not cry or be saddened, but let it give us the courage to fight and reject betrayal.”
The abduction of Soka, Mlay, and Mbise has drawn comparisons to other high-profile cases, such as that of Azory Gwanda, a Mwananchi journalist who disappeared in 2017. Gwanda’s case remains unresolved, highlighting the ongoing dangers faced by those who oppose the government. Soka’s abduction adds to a troubling pattern of targeted attacks on activists and journalists in Tanzania.
In its press statement on August 22, 2024, Chadema alleged that the trio was taken by a covert police task force operating outside the bounds of the law. Attempts to get a response from Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Jumanne Muliro went unanswered. This secrecy further fuels concerns about the legitimacy and accountability of law enforcement practices.
The implications of Soka’s abduction are significant. It casts a dark shadow over the safety of activists and journalists in Tanzania, raising critical questions about government accountability and the protection of human rights.
The case of Deusdedith Soka is a crucial test of Tanzania’s commitment to justice and the rule of law. The legal system’s response to this case will determine how seriously the country takes its obligation to protect human rights and ensure accountability. A transparent and robust response is essential to prevent further violations and restore confidence in the protection of fundamental freedoms.