Tanzania's celebrities face fierce public outrage in aftermath of 2025 elections

Diamond Platnumz. [Courtesy, Instagram] Diamond, East Africa's biggest pop star, had to wait until Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in as the President of Tanzania on Monday 3, before he came back online to write a post congratulating her. "Mama yangu @samia_suluhu_hassan Wewe ni Rais Muungwana sana, Mchapa kazi na Mwenye Busara sana... Jua kwamba ni wengi Tunaokupenda na Kuthamini Mazuri Unayoyafanya kwenye nchi yetu," he wrote on Instagram, days after he deleted posts that connected him to CCM (Chama Cha Mapinduzi) activities, and hours after he was rumoured to be hiding in the Kenyan coast. Then he had to delete posts after Tanzanians flooded his comment section, accusing him of betraying ordinary citizens and ignoring growing concerns about the fairness of the electoral process. This after hundreds are said to have been killed after demonstrating from the day of the 2025 elections. Diamond is the biggest casualty of the October 29 elections, the face of what some Tanzanians see as a celebrity bubble disassociated with the everyday realities of life. Outside of the online attacks, there have been unconfirmed reports of irate Tanzanians destroying homes and businesses of celebrities who have supported CCM. An electronics shop owned by rapper Billnas was targeted, a boutique owned by Juma Jux vandalised, and a popular restaurant chain run by actress, musician and businesswoman Shilole set on fire. Juma Jux. [Courtesy, Instagram] While not the most hotly contested election in Tanzania, the just concluded contest is contextually the most controversial in recent times, with the State using its powers to deny the biggest opposition party CHADEMA (Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo) a place on the ballot. With its presidential candidate Tundu Lissu behind bars, the election was set up for a landslide victory for CCM. On Tuesday, US-based singer Vanessa Mdee added her voice to the debacle, noting "Uapisho bila raia," in relation to the swearing in that was closed off to the public, only aired on TVs hours after the internet was switched back on. But the signs of what is happening in showbiz, where celebrities are under more scrutiny than before, have been up for some time. When Roma Mkatoliki, alongside Moni, a producer, Bello bin Laden, an artiste, and a domestic worker were abducted from Tongwe Records in 2017 and tortured, the furore that followed the kidnapping was a sign of the times to come. Roma Mkatoliki. [Courtesy] Then led by the late John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, the State had become more autocratic just as social media gained more prominence in giving anyone a voice. The four were found four days later abandoned, with details emerging after that they had been tortured; blindfolded and tied around the arms and legs.During a press conference, Roma revealed that they had been subjected to long interrogation by security personal, concluding that opponents of the State "are not safe. Our security is not guaranteed. Anything could happen at any moment." The abduction was not random. Roma had become a thorn on the flesh of the State, teaming up with Stamina to form Rostam, a rap duo that used sarcasm and rap music to speak to power. Roma and Stamina, were the latest critics, joining a strong list that has Ney Wa Mitego, Professor Jay and Niki Mbishi. Outliers, the five rappers are the most prominent critiques of the State, making a career out if being the voice of the people, critical of the constitutional misgivings, lack of civil liberties, and general failing of the government in providing even the simplest population needs like medicine. Outside of the rappers, other celebrities and notable voices who were not in bed with State included Maria Sarungi Tsehai, a civil right advocate based in Nairobi who was abducted in Kenya on January 2025 and released, allegedly, when a foreign country showed its interest. Another is the hugely popular online personality and blogger Mange Kimambi, who is based in the United States. Mange, whose Instagram bio carries the tagline "Dada wa Taifa. No Reforms, No Election", has been sharing videos and images said to be of Tanzanians who were shot in the post-election fiasco. On Wednesday this week, Tanzania's Attorney General Mr Hamza Saidi Johari called for her immediate extradition to Tanzania, saying openly that Mange was a threat to the state. "Haiwezekani mtu mmoja amekaa nje ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania dada tu ata ukimwangalia appearance yake anawaambia watu wakafanye hivyo na wanaenda kufanya kweli, alafu imetokea anaanza kutamba, anasema bado atakuja kivingine, lazima tumkamate...tuangalia kama tuko na extradition agreement with the United States of America," Johari said. Still on Wednesday, the Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police confirmed the arrest of online entrepreneur Jenifer Jovin, known as Niffer, on allegations of inciting unrest and damaging public infrastructure ahead of the 2025 General Election. She had been missing since October 27. Collage of Mange Kamambi and Jenifer Jovin On the other hand, leading celebrities like Diamond, Ali Kiba, and prominent actors like Queenie Masanja have openly supported, adorned the distinct green of CCM, and in some case, sang praises for the government. Queenie Masanja, speaking during CCM's 48th birthday in early February, acknowledged that mostc elebrities were openly in support of their preferred political party. "Sio ukweli kwamba hatukua tunashabikia chama chochote." When asked if there was a big divide between celebrities and their fans, regular Tanzanians, she disagreed, saying; "Hapana, inapokuja swala la chama, ni kitu binafsi, ukiondoa suanii ukiondoo kitu gani, uko huru kuwa mwanachama wa chama chochote." Ali Kiba has recorded Waambieni, a track dedicated to CCM, a vibrant and uplifting anthem dedicated to the party's legacy and its impact on Tanzania's progress, and Tunatamba Nae, a celebration of President Samia's visionary leadership, resilience, and dedication to Tanzania's development, while Diamond's has released Namleta and CCM Number 1, all done for the current election cycle. Alikiba performing at a past CCM event. [Courtesy, Instagram] Bongo stars have always been at the centre of the nation's politics with their ability to pull in the masses. Mr Sugu, born Joseph Mbilinyi, Tanzanian rapper and human rights activist was the first celebrity to be elected as MP for Mbeya in 2010 under Chadema. In 2015, the Professor Jay (Joseph Haule) made history when he vied for and won the parliamentary seat for Mikumi constituency, also under Chadema. In the 2025 general election, more celebrities have vied, looking to join Babu Tale, who is defending his Morogoro South Parliamentary seat, and Mwana FA, also defending his Muheza parliamentary seat. The include DJ Romy Jons, who contested for the Mbagala parliamentary, Baba Levo, who vied for the Kigoma town parliamentary seat, Mwijaku, for the Mvomero parliamentary seat, Shetta, for Mchikichini ward and Dogo Janja, for the Ngarenaro councilor seat. The all vied flying the CCM flag. Two weeks to the election, Roma released Teremsha Bunduki, a song that talked specifically to the police, asking for restraint as the election neared. The song has garnered more than a million views on YouTube, a premonition to the deadly massacre that happened after. Another song released recently was Abdul, written and addressed to the president's son, Abdul Halim Hafidh Ameir, who has been fingered as the man behind the powerful and influential Tanzanian Intelligence and Security Service. After the open revolt by the public, and the target attacks on their business premises and homes, celebrities have come out with scripted posts calling for peace and unity for Tanzanians. Roland Ebole, Amnesty International's regional researcher for East Africa, told AFP that the post-election chaos stems from a wave of abductions and killings of government critics. "People were not expecting Tanzania to get to this level. But when you push people, when opposition candidates are either in prison or banned from participating, when people are abducted left, right, centre with no kind of accountability, when there are arbitrary arrests of opposition supporters, people have been cornered for so long, and at some point they had to retaliate and push back," he said.

Tanzania's celebrities face fierce public outrage in aftermath of 2025 elections

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