Tanzania President Samia Suluhu has confirmed the murder of opposition party Chadema leader Mohamed Ali Kibao.
In a statement on Sunday, September 8, 2024, Suluhu announced that he had ordered the investigation agencies to bring detailed information about the incident.
“Kwa masikitiko makubwa nimepokea taarifa ya mauaji ya kiongozi wa CHADEMA Bwana Mohamed Ali Kibao. Natoa pole kwa viongozi wa chama hicho, familia ya Mzee Kibao, ndugu, jamaa na marafiki. Nimeagiza vyombo vya uchunguzi kuniletea taarifa ya kina kuhusu tukio hili baya kabisa na mengine ya namna hii haraka. Nchi yetu ni ya kidemokrasia na kila raia ana Haki ya kuishi. Serikali ninayoiongoza haivumilii vitendo vya kikatili vya namna hii,” Suluhu stated.
Translated to;
“It is with great sadness that I received the news of the murder of CHADEMA leader Mr Mohamed Ali Kibao. I apologize to the leaders of the party, the family of Mzee Kibao, brothers, relatives and friends. I have ordered the investigation agencies to bring me detailed information about this terrible incident and others like this as soon as possible. Our country is democratic and every citizen has the right to live. The government I lead does not tolerate such acts.”
Chadema party leader
Kibao, a member of Chadema’s national secretariat, according to party officials was forced off a bus on Friday while he was travelling from Dar es Salaam to Tanga.
His body was found in the Ununio waterfront district of Dar es Salaam on Saturday night.
“The postmortem has been conducted (witnessed by) Chadema lawyers and it is clear that Kibao was severely beaten and had acid poured on his face. We cannot allow our persons to continue disappearing or being killed like this. The lives of Chadema leaders are currently at risk,” party leader Freeman Mbowe said on Sunday.