Tanzanian President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has condemned the brutal killing of a senior member of the main opposition party, Chadema, Mohamed Ali Kibao, who was kidnapped, beaten and doused with acid.
According to local media, Kibao was forced off a bus by suspected security agents while travelling from the country’s biggest city, Dar-es-Salaam to his hometown Tanga.
His body was found in Ununio, the waterfront district of Dar es Salaam.
In a statement issued by the party chairman, Freeman Mbowe, the post-mortem found that Kibao had been “severely beaten and had acid poured on his face”.
President Samia has called for an immediate investigation into the horrific murder and denounced the violent acts.
The United States Embassy in Tanzania voiced their support for an “independent, transparent, and prompt investigation” into the killing of Kibao.
Kibao’s killing comes amid concern by the opposition and rights groups of a clampdown on political activity.
“We cannot allow our people to continue disappearing or being killed like this. The lives of Chadema leaders are currently at risk,” Mr Mbowe told AFP.
The 69-Year-Old was a retired military intelligence officer and joined Chadema in 2008. He will be buried on Monday in the Darigube district of Tanga city.
The killing of Kibao has sparked widespread condemnation across Tanzania, with many asking the government to take action over reports of several other people being abducted and killed.
The US Embassy in Tanzania said: “Murder and disappearances, as well as last month’s detentions, beatings, efforts to disenfranchise citizens ahead of elections, should have no place in a democracy”.
