THE Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) regional leadership in Mara has joined the family of the party’s Mainland Deputy Chairperson, John Heche, in demanding that the Tanzania Police Force publicly disclose his whereabouts.
The party also called on religious leaders and human rights activists to raise their voices over the issue, warning that continued silence could deepen public fear and distrust.
Heche was arrested on the morning of October 22, 2025, outside the High Court in Dar es Salaam, where he had gone to attend court sessions involving CHADEMA Chairperson Tundu Lissu and another case concerning the party’s assets.
Speaking to journalists in Mara on Friday, October 24, 2025, CHADEMA’s Mara Regional Secretary, Donald Mwembe, said the police’s failure to state Heche’s location has caused widespread concern and anxiety.
“Heche is not only a family man and a party leader but also a national figure representing thousands of Tanzanians who believe in justice and democracy,” Mwembe said.
He added that the continued silence from law enforcement authorities has heightened fear among citizens, especially given the recurring reports of people disappearing under mysterious circumstances.