Tanzanian social media activist Edgar Mwakabela, alias Sativa, has recounted a near-fatal abduction where he was shot in the head and left for dead, surviving against all odds. His story underscores a disturbing trend of enforced disappearances and violence against government critics in Tanzania, particularly as the country approaches general elections.
Sativa was abducted on June 23, 2024, while on a highway in Dar es Salaam. His captors, whom he believes were police or state operatives, handcuffed and blindfolded him, then subjected him to brutal beatings with a machete during interrogation about his anti-government activism.
After days of torture, he was transported to the remote Katavi region. There, in a national park, he was shot at close range, with a bullet piercing his skull and shattering his jaw. His assailants left him for dead, assuming he would not survive.
Miraculously, Sativa regained consciousness and crawled to a road, where he was found and rescued by wildlife rangers. His survival has been described as extraordinary, and he required extensive medical treatment for his life-threatening injuries.
Sativa’s case is not isolated. In recent months, Tanzania has seen a surge in abductions, mostly targeting opposition figures and critics. Every week, new missing persons reports emerge, with some victims never returning or found dead under suspicious circumstances.
Other prominent cases include portrait artist Shedrack Chaula, who vanished after criticizing the president online, and opposition politician Mpaluka Nyangali, abducted from his home in front of his family. Their families plead for answers, but authorities often provide little information.
The Tanzanian government denies involvement in these abductions. Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner David Misime stated that investigations are ongoing and that some cases have been resolved, with victims found alive or explanations involving personal disputes.
International bodies like the UN have expressed alarm, reporting over 200 enforced disappearances since 2019. Rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch accuse the government of systematic abuse to silence dissent, especially ahead of the October elections.
Despite President Samia Suluhu’s directive to end such incidents, few arrests have been made, and justice remains elusive for victims’ families. The climate of fear persists, with many afraid to speak out, highlighting ongoing challenges to human rights and democracy in Tanzania.
