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Tanzania political crisis: Chadema breaks its silence on mass graves

By The Standard November 30, 2025

Source: The Standard

Tanzania political crisis: Chadema breaks its silence on mass graves

Tanzania has cancelled next month’s Independence Day celebrations, a move interpreted as a response to planned nationwide demonstrations against the disputed re-election of President Samia Suluhu. This comes amid mounting calls for international investigation into post-election violence that left scores dead. In an exclusive interview with The Standard Investigations Editor Francis Ontomwa, Chadema Head of Information Gerva Lyenda speaks from a safe house for the first time since going into hiding.Q: In October, just before the elections, you made the decision to go underground. What exactly made you feel your life was at risk?A: I never imagined a day would come when I would be forced to flee my own home in search of safety, when my motherland would become so hostile that I would essentially become a political exile. It is the worst feeling, living on the edge, never sure if you will see the next day. And it’s not just me.Get Full Access for Ksh299/WeekUnlock the Full Story — Join Thousands of Informed Kenyans TodayUnlock the Truth Now 》Unlimited access to all premium contentUninterrupted ad-free browsing experienceMobile-optimized reading experienceWeekly NewslettersMPesa, Airtel Money and Cards acceptedAlready a subscriber?Log inFollow The Standard
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Q: In October, just before the elections, you made the decision to go underground. What exactly made you feel your life was at risk?A: I never imagined a day would come when I would be forced to flee my own home in search of safety, when my motherland would become so hostile that I would essentially become a political exile. It is the worst feeling, living on the edge, never sure if you will see the next day. And it’s not just me.Get Full Access for Ksh299/WeekUnlock the Full Story — Join Thousands of Informed Kenyans TodayUnlock the Truth Now 》Unlimited access to all premium contentUninterrupted ad-free browsing experienceMobile-optimized reading experienceWeekly NewslettersMPesa, Airtel Money and Cards acceptedAlready a subscriber?Log inFollow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp

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