By Adonis Byemelwa
A political storm is brewing in Tanzania, where a reckless accusation has sparked national outrage and global concern. Amos Makalla, the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party’s Secretary for Ideology, Publicity, and Training, has alleged that the opposition party Chadema is raising funds to acquire and spread the deadly Ebola and Mpox viruses to disrupt the upcoming elections. The claim is as shocking as it is absurd.
Speaking at a rally in Simiyu on March 22, 2025, Makalla declared, “Chadema is collecting funds under the pretext of mobilizing the public to reject the elections and halt the electoral process. But there is a hidden agenda. They intend to use the funds raised by the tone-tone campaign to ‘purchase’ Ebola and Mpox viruses and bring them to Tanzania to spread, to ensure that the elections do not take place.”
This statement was met with instant backlash, with critics condemning it as reckless, dangerous, and a desperate political maneuver. In Mbeya, Chadema’s Deputy Secretary General, Amani Golugwa, responded with fury. “Amos Makalla, you have spoken very recklessly, and you must take responsibility for your words. Shame on you. Reflect on this and retract your words within seven days,” he demanded.
Chadema’s Vice-Chairperson, John Heche, took it a step further. “Makalla is claiming that we are going to purchase viruses, yet he has not told Tanzanians which store sells these viruses and at what price, so that we can inform the WHO to destroy them at their source. He is an economic saboteur.”
The accusation comes at a politically charged time, with CHADEMA’s ‘Tone Tone’ campaign gaining momentum. Launched on February 28, 2025, the initiative is a grassroots effort aimed at mobilizing financial support for the opposition’s political activities.
It has resonated deeply with Tanzanians frustrated by the ruling party’s grip on power. Within just 48 hours, the campaign had raised over 64 million Tanzanian shillings, a testament to the public's growing discontent with the status quo.
Makalla’s inflammatory claim, however, has taken political rivalry to a dangerous level, introducing bio-terrorism allegations into an already tense atmosphere. Legal experts and political analysts have expressed concern over the gravity of such accusations.
Lawyer Fatma Karume was quick to dismantle Makalla’s statement, questioning, “Who is breeding the Ebola virus? In which country is this person located, and at what price is it being sold? Why hasn’t the government informed the WHO? Makalla is a scholar and a leader. To claim that Chadema is planning a biological attack against Tanzanians without evidence is not politics.”
ACT Wazalendo, another opposition party, also weighed in. The party’s General Secretary, Ado Shaibu, announced plans to write to the Registrar of Political Parties, demanding that action be taken against Makalla for spreading what they termed “false and fascist” statements. “This statement is not just an attack on Chadema but also an attack on democracy and the nation. It is a reckless remark that should not be tolerated,” Shaibu stated.
Public reaction was swift and scathing. Social media platforms erupted with criticism, with many calling for Makalla to retract his claims. Faced with mounting pressure, the government-owned newspaper Habari Leo quickly retracted the story from its social media pages, citing a lack of response from the opposition and public concerns over the article’s credibility.
But the damage was already done. The accusation has not only inflamed political tensions but has also raised alarms internationally. The World Health Organization (WHO) is now being urged to step in to ensure that misinformation about deadly viruses does not spiral into public panic.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists Ebola and smallpox among the highest-priority bioterrorism agents due to their potential for mass casualties and social disruption. Throwing such words around recklessly, as Makalla has done, is not just irresponsible—it is dangerous.
The broader context of Tanzania’s political and economic struggles cannot be ignored. Benson Bagonza, the Evangelical Lutheran Bishop of the Karagwe Diocese, recently shared a poignant reflection on social media, highlighting the everyday struggles of Tanzanians caught in a corrupt and overregulated system:
“A retiree invests his pension, but bureaucratic delays eat into his capital, leaving him broke and stricken by a stroke. A police officer, having taken bribes from criminals, reinvests the dirty money into a bus business, only for his son, whom he entrusts to run it, to be killed by the same criminals.
He, too, suffers a stroke. A corrupt tax official amasses wealth through overtaxing businesses, only to find himself bankrupt after the government delays payments on contracts he took. His assets are seized by the banks, and he is found dead one morning. The trap of corruption and overregulation spares no one.”
These grim anecdotes illustrate the real cost of corruption and poor governance. The political climate in Tanzania is becoming increasingly hostile, and Makalla’s reckless comments add fuel to an already raging fire. While it is true that political competition is fierce, dragging public health threats into the fray is beyond reckless—it is an act of desperation.
The government has yet to officially address Makalla’s claims, but silence in the face of such a dangerous accusation is not an option. When a senior CCM official alleges that the opposition is planning a biological attack without a shred of evidence, it reflects not only the deep political divisions in the country but also the lengths to which some are willing to go to maintain power.
Bishop William Mwamalanga, who doubles as chairman of the Faith, Peace, and Reconciliation Council of All Faiths, has strongly condemned Makalla’s remarks. Speaking with The Jambo TV recently, Mwamalanga did not mince words, calling on CCM to take immediate action against Makalla. He urged the ruling party to remove him from his position and, if possible, force him to leave the country altogether.
"It is a shame for Tanzania to have a leader of Makalla’s type," Mwamalanga stated, adding that such reckless rhetoric damages the country’s credibility and threatens national stability.
This is not just a matter of political rivalry; it is a test of Tanzania’s democratic and moral standing. As the 2025 elections draw near, the stakes are higher than ever. Political rhetoric has consequences, and Makalla’s words have set a dangerous precedent. Misinformation, especially about public health threats, can erode trust in institutions, fuel unnecessary panic, and even incite violence.
Tanzania has been here before. The government has been scrutinized for its handling of infectious diseases in the past, and reckless statements like these only serve to undermine public confidence. The WHO must engage with Tanzanian authorities to ensure that health information is not weaponized for political gain.
As the dust settles on this controversy, one thing is clear: the Tanzanian people deserve better. They deserve a political landscape where elections are won through ideas and policies, not through fear-mongering and baseless accusations. The world is watching, and history will not be kind to those who play politics with people’s lives.