Tanzanian opposition leader barred from travelling to Raila’s burial in Kenya

TARIME, Tanzania 

Tanzanian opposition leader John Heche has been arrested and detained at the Isibania One Stop Border Post. 

The opposition leader was reportedly held as he attempted to cross into Kenya for the burial of former prime minister Raila Amolo Odinga. 

Heche, the Deputy Chairperson of Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA, was detained by Tanzanian authorities around 2pm while preparing to lead a delegation to represent the party at Raila’s funeral in Bondo, Siaya county, on Sunday, October 19.

In a statement issued later that afternoon, CHADEMA confirmed the arrest, accusing the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and President Samia Hassan's government of political persecution. 

The party said immigration officers not only detained Heche but also confiscated his passport without explanation. 

“The Government of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi Party has detained the Party’s Deputy Chairperson, Honourable John Heche.

Preventing Hon. Heche from travelling to convey condolences to the people of Kenya denies citizens of that country their right to receive sympathy in times of tragedy," 

CHADEMA’s Director of Communication and Publicity, Brenda Rupia, said. 

Rupia demanded Heche’s immediate release, insisting that the move violated his constitutional right to travel, as guaranteed under Article 17(1) of Tanzania’s Constitution. 

"We call upon the Government of Tanzania to release Hon. Heche immediately and to stop harassing our party leaders by depriving them of their constitutional right to leave and enter the country," Rupia added. 

Heche’s arrest came after CHADEMA announced that he would lead a team of senior party officials to Raila’s burial. 

The team included former MP Godbless Lema and Boniface Jacob, a regional party leader from the Coast.

Their mission was to represent CHADEMA’s detained party leader, Tundu Lissu, who is currently facing treason charges in a Dodoma court. 

Lissu reportedly handpicked the delegation after being denied permission to travel to Kenya. 

According to party officials, the decision followed discussions between Lissu and Heche during a court session. 

Lissu had made an emotional appeal to President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the judiciary to allow him to attend Raila’s burial. 

In another development, the Tanzania Immigration Services Department issues a statement after the opposition politician alleged to have been detained at the border.

In the statement,  the country's Immigration Department has said that the CHADEMA Vice Chairman, John Heche, has left the country by crossing the border and entering a neighboring country without following immigration procedures and regulations.