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Tanzanian opposition leader Godbless Lema said immigration officials at the Namanga border post stopped him from travelling to Kenya for a medical visit
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The former Arusha MP said he had waited for over four hours before being told to return home and report to immigration headquarters in Dodoma for further instructions
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The Tanzania Immigration Service Department later confirmed Lema’s passport had been seized, but denied claims that CHADEMA leaders were under a blanket travel ban
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Lema criticised what he described as a worsening climate of repression under President Samia Suluhu’s government
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at .co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Tanzanian opposition leader Godbless Jonathan Lema has been blocked from leaving the country in a dramatic border standoff amid fears over growing political repression.
Lema, a member of the Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) party, was stopped by immigration officers at the Namanga One Stop Border Post on Friday, June 6, while attempting to cross into Kenya.
The politician who resides in Arusha was en route to Nairobi for what he described as a routine medical check-up.
But what started as a standard trip quickly turned into a tense standoff as immigration officials at Namanga confiscated his passport and barred him from proceeding with his journey.
“After enduring a wait of over four (4) hours, I have now been officially prohibited from traveling. My passport has been confiscated, and I am required to return home to Arusha,” he revealed on X
The former Arusha Urban MP said he had been advised to report to the Immigration Headquarters in Dodoma to obtain further information about the unexpected ban.
In his emotionally charged post, Lema lamented the state of civil liberties in Tanzania and expressed concern for the future of the country’s youth.
“I sincerely hope that this suffering will soon come to an end for us, and we must ensure that our children never have to endure such challenges in their lives. Even the children of our oppressors should not have to live under such conditions. We Shall overcome,” he lamented.
Shortly after Lema’s public statement, the Tanzania Immigration Service Department confirmed the incident, acknowledging that his passport had been seized and that he was under official travel restrictions.
“Godbless Jonathan Lema was prevented from leaving the country and his passport was retained. In line with this restriction, Mr. Lema has been instructed to report to Immigration Headquarters for further questioning,” read part of a statement issued by the department’s chief spokesperson, SSI Paul J. Mselle.
The department also dismissed Lema’s claim that all CHADEMA officials were facing a blanket travel ban, calling such statements “false” and urging the public not to be misled.
“Furthermore, the Immigration Department urges the public to disregard false claims made by Lema on social media suggesting that this restriction targets all CHADEMA leaders,” Mselle stated
The incident comes amid mounting scrutiny of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration and its handling of dissent.
