IPC slams ‘public silence’ on Tanzania human rights abuses amid NNN’s state visit

Eugenia Moche

The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has criticised President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s state visit to Tanzania, accusing her of remaining silent on human rights abuses while celebrating economic ties with a government accused of extrajudicial killings, political persecution, and mass detentions.

In a statement issued on Sunday, IPC shadow minister of international relations and trade, Rodney Cloete, said that while the three-day visit had produced “warm words on trade” and pledges to deepen economic cooperation, there had been “public silence” on the imprisonment of Tanzania’s main opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, and the killing of citizens in the wake of the country’s October 2025 elections.

Lissu, leader of the main opposition party CHADEMA, has been held on a treason charge that carries the death penalty and allows no bail since April 2025.