A senior officer in the Tanzania Air Force has publicly called for the military to remove President Samia Suluhu from office just days before the country heads to the polls.
Captain Tesha, a serving member of the air force, released a strongly worded statement accusing President Suluhu of undermining the country’s democratic institutions and warned that the upcoming general election could plunge Tanzania into chaos.
“Tanzania is a ticking time bomb under Samia Suluhu’s leadership,” Tesha said. “If this election goes ahead under the current conditions, there may be no Tanzania left to govern.”
Tesha alleges that since taking over from the late President John Pombe Magufuli, Suluhu has systematically weakened independent institutions, including the police, judiciary, and now the National Electoral Commission (NEC). He claims the president is attempting to bring the military under her control to shield her regime from public dissent or opposition-led revolt in the event of post-election unrest.
According to Tesha, President Suluhu is positioning the military as a political tool ahead of the elections, in an attempt to retain power amid growing public dissatisfaction and threats of a nationwide boycott by the opposition.
“She wants the army to defend her, not the constitution,” Tesha stated.
In response, the captain said he has submitted a formal letter to Tanzania’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), urging immediate military intervention to “save the nation” and suspend the election process.
“If the CDF fails to act, and these elections proceed, riots will break out, and the country will destabilize beyond repair,” Tesha warned.
The allegations come at a time of deepening political tensions in Tanzania. Opposition parties and civil society groups have long accused President Suluhu of consolidating power and stifling dissent. The upcoming election has been marred by threats of boycott, protest, and growing mistrust in the electoral process.
Neither the government nor the military has officially responded to Tesha’s claims. The NEC has stated that preparations for the election are continuing as scheduled, and security agencies are on alert for any disruptions.
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