In an act of absurdity, Janeth Rithe, the ACT WAZALENDO female leader, was called by the police on 17th June, 2025, to explain herself over her campaign utterances. She took herself there where she was remanded, and the police claimed they were still interrogating her!
The whole caboodle took her precious time from the campaign trail robbing her of valuable time of making her case with the electorate. What she said was really a riposte to President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s controversial claim that Tanzania’s economy was faring better than those of the US and the EU.
To her credit, Janeth Rithe was responding to a gauntlet thrown by President Samia Suluhu Hassan who had urged those who were capable of researching to attest her comparative postulation. And, this is what Janeth Rithe did, and now she is being harassed by the police!
What did she say to suffer in this manner?
She questioned whether the president was flummoxed to the extent of making that hyperbole that Janeth Rithe had considered “bizarre”. She also remarked that CCM was now running a police state, and the police were fewer than all of us. That the police couldn’t overwhelm us since we have a “tyranny of numbers.” This is her ordeal.
What really happened?
The arrest of Janeth Rithe (also identified as Janeth Aneth in some other accounts), a prominent leader of Tanzania’s opposition party ACT Wazalendo, represents a severe escalation in the suppression of political dissent ahead of the October 2025 elections. Below is a detailed analysis of the incident, its context, and implications, synthesized from verified sources:
🔍 1. Arrest Details and Political Context.
– Incident:
On June 17, 2025, Rithe was summoned by police to “explain” campaign statements criticizing President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s claim that Tanzania’s economy outperforms those of the US and EU. After voluntarily reporting, she was detained for hours under interrogation, disrupting her campaign schedule.
– Pattern of Harassment:
This follows earlier arrests of ACT Wazalendo members. In April 2025, police stormed the party’s Dar-es-salaam office and arrested Rithe, then head of the women’s wing, during election preparations. The party denounced this as an attempt to stifle democracy.
– Broader Crackdown:
Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA, faces similar repression. Its chairperson, Tundu Lissu, remains jailed on treason charges, and authorities routinely block opposition rallies.
💬 2. The Controversial Economic Claim.
– President Samia’s Statement:
In June 2025, Samia asserted Tanzania’s economy is “doing better” than the US and EU, citing GDP growth (5.5–6% vs. 1.4% in the US), currency stability, and low debt (47.5% of GDP). She challenged critics to “research” her claim.
– Rithe’s Critique:
Rithe countered that this comparison was misleading, highlighting:
– Poverty:
43% of Tanzanians live below the international poverty line ($2.15/day), versus <10% in the US.
– Economic Scale:
Tanzania’s GDP per capita is $1,187, compared to $80,000 in the US and $35,948 in the EU.
– Structural Issues:
Heavy reliance on climate-vulnerable agriculture (65% employment) and under-industrialization (manufacturing is 8% of GDP).
⚖️ 3. Legal and Democratic Implications.
– Freedom of Speech:
Rithe’s detention underscores the erosion of civil liberties under laws retained from the Magufuli era, such as the Cybercrimes Act and Media Services Act, which criminalize dissent.
– Election Integrity:
ACT Wazalendo is participating in the 2025 elections to “prevent assaults on democracy,” but the arrest validates concerns about state interference. Recent local elections saw CCM win 99% of seats amid allegations of fraud.
– Gender Dynamics:
As a female leader, Rithe’s targeting reflects broader risks for women in politics. Similar arrests of female opposition figures occurred in Rwanda, highlighting regional trends.
📊 4. Economic Reality Check. Key indicators contradicting Samia’s claim:
| 1.0 | Indicator | Tanzania. | United States. | European Union. |
| 2.0 | GDP Growth (2025). | 5.5-6%. | 1.4%. | 1-2%. |
| 3.0 | GDP Per Capita. | $1,187. | ~$80,000. | $35,948. |
| 4.0 | Poverty Rate. | 43%. | <10%. | ~20%. |
| 5.0 | Key Vulnerabilities. | Climate shocks, revenue gaps. | Trade tensions. | Geopolitical conflicts. |
🌍 5. Regional and International Reactions.
– Regional Context:
Tanzania’s economy trails Rwanda (7.6% growth) and Uganda (6.2%) in East Africa. Samia’s comparison ignores Kenya’s more diversified service sector (54% of GDP).
– Investor Concerns:
While Samia has attracted foreign investment (e.g., $8.6 billion in 2021–2023), arbitrary arrests and weak rule of law threaten economic stability.
✊ 6. Opposition Resilience and Future Outlook.
ACT Wazalendo frames the 2025 elections as a “battleground” for democratic reform. However, Rithe’s arrest exemplifies the high costs of dissent.
Without urgent legal reforms and international pressure, Tanzania’s democratic trajectory remains bleak. The World Bank’s 2025–2029 partnership framework emphasizes “government effectiveness” and “empowerment“—goals incompatible with such repression.
In summary:
Rithe’s detention is not an isolated incident but a calculated move to silence critics of state narratives. It exposes the contradiction between Tanzania’s economic aspirations and its autocratic practices, demanding scrutiny from global actors invested in the nation’s democratic future.
Are Rithe’s statements amount to criminal acts?
Janeth Aneth Rithe’s statements do not amount to legitimate “criminal acts” under international human rights standards or Tanzania’s constitutional framework. Here is a detailed breakdown of the key factors:
⚖️ 1. Nature of Rithe’s Statements.
Rithe questioned President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s claim that Tanzania’s economy outperforms the US and EU, characterizing it as “bizarre” and suggesting the President might be “flummoxed.” This was a “political critique” framed as a response to the President’s public challenge for researchers to verify her assertion. Such commentary falls squarely within “protected political speech” under:
– Article 21 of Tanzania’s Constitution (right to political participation).
– Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (freedom of expression).
No evidence indicates incitement to violence, defamation, or false information—elements typically required for criminal sanctions. She was only making a case why CCM has lost her mojo, and it was time for the electorate to sack it.
🚨 2. Context of Political Repression.
Rithe’s detention aligns with a documented “pattern of silencing opposition” ahead of Tanzania’s October 2025 elections:
– Opposition leader “Tundu Lissu” (CHADEMA) faces treason charges—punishable by death—for advocating electoral reforms and alleging judicial bias.
– CHADEMA was “disqualified from elections” for refusing to sign a “Code of Ethics” without prior reforms.
– “UN experts” report over 200 enforced disappearances since 2019, targeting critics.
Rithe’s arrest for factual pushback on economic claims fits this trend of criminalizing dissent.
⚖️ 3. Legal Misuse and Due Process Violations.
– Arbitrary Detention:
Rithe was held for prolonged interrogation without formal charges, disrupting her campaign—a tactic condemned by Amnesty International as suppressing opposition.
– Flawed Legal Basis:
Tanzania’s “Cybercrimes Act” and treason laws are weaponized to punish criticism. The UN notes these tools “circumvent due process“.
– Judicial Independence Erosion:
Courts face political pressure, exemplified by Lissu’s prosecution for social media posts. Rithe’s detention without prompt judicial review violates Article 13 of the African Charter.
🌍 4. International Condemnation.
Multiple authorities deem similar cases as “human rights violations”, not lawful enforcement:
– “UN experts” link Rithe-style detentions to “systemic repression”.
– “Amnesty International” demands release of opposition figures arrested for “peaceful expression“.
– The “Centre for Human Rights” states criminalizing political responses creates an “un-electoral environment”.
💎 Conclusion.
Rithe’s statements constitute “protected political speech”, not criminal acts. Her detention reflects a “broader strategy to stifle opposition” through abusive legal mechanisms, violating Tanzania’s constitutional and international obligations. The international community consistently classifies such actions as “arbitrary and politically motivated”.
Read more analysis by Rutashubanyuma Nestory
