A former Tanzanian ambassador and vocal critic of the government, Humphrey Polepole, has been kidnapped by unidentified individuals, according to his family.
His brother informed the BBC that the incident took place in the early hours of Monday at Polepole’s residence in Dar es Salaam.
Footage seen by SaharaReporters reveals a shattered door and visible bloodstains on the floor, suggesting a violent confrontation.
Video file
“You see the blood; they broke the door while he was hiding,” a source told SaharaReporters.
“We went to the house where he was living and found the door broken, electric wires cut, and a large amount of blood spilled,” Godfrey Polepole, the former ambassador’s younger brother, told the BBC.
Video file
He said the family reported the matter after visiting the residence.
Dar es Salaam Police Chief, Jumanne Muliro, confirmed that officers are investigating the reported incident.
However, the police chief appeared to express doubt about the alleged attack, telling the BBC that the former ambassador to Cuba was frequently said to be out of the country and questioning how such an incident could have occurred at his home in Tanzania.
“In short, just as you’re following this story, so am I also following on the incident because we also want to know what’s really happening,” he said.
National Police Spokesperson David Misime stated in a press release that the authorities were aware of the reports circulating online and had initiated investigations.
He explained that the police were still expecting former ambassador Humphrey Polepole to honour their summons and provide a statement regarding a series of allegations he had made since his resignation in July.
Polepole resigned earlier this year after criticising the government, saying he could no longer serve an administration that disregards justice and the rule of law.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan subsequently revoked his appointment, stripping him of his diplomatic status.
Since then, Polepole has made several online allegations against government officials and institutions, claiming that armed men harassed his family and twice raided his home, with no visible progress in investigations.
Last month, police stated that they had opened a case file against him, suggesting that some of his statements could amount to criminal offences, and directed him to report to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
The development comes as Tanzania heads toward general elections on October 29 amid mounting political tension. President Samia, who took office in 2021 after John Magufuli’s death, is seeking a second and final term. Once praised for opening up political space, her administration now faces criticism for increasing repression.
The main opposition party, Chadema, has been barred from the polls, its leader, Tundu Lissu, remains detained, and ACT-Wazalendo’s candidate, Luhaga Mpina, has been disqualified, leaving Samia to face only minor challengers as reports of abductions and harassment of critics intensify.