Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – October 6, 2025 – In a startling and unprecedented move, a serving Tanzanian army officer has publicly called for the military to step in and temporarily take control of the government to prevent violence, restore constitutional order, and open a national dialogue. The dramatic plea, delivered in a livestream that has since gone viral, has sparked fierce debate across Tanzania just weeks before the general elections scheduled for October 29, 2025.
The officer, identified online as Captain John Charles Tesha, a weapons instructor at the Military Aviation School (SAK) in the Tanzanian People’s Defence Force (TPDF) Air Wing, addressed the nation in full uniform on October 5 in a broadcast lasting over two hours. His message invoked the legacy of Tanzania’s founding father, the late President Julius Nyerere, warning of the dangers of “unchecked tyranny.”
“Failure to stand against oppression would allow ‘thugs’ to govern the nation,” Tesha declared. He called on the armed forces to investigate corruption, probe the mysterious 2021 death of former President John Pombe Magufuli, and oppose what he described as a corrosive “deep state” undermining democracy.
Tesha’s address has resonated widely — and controversially — in a country already fraught with political tension. Opposition leaders have faced arrests, abductions, and bans on rallies in recent months, while human rights groups have criticised the government over forced displacement of Maasai communities in Ngorongoro and Loliondo.
In his speech, Tesha did not shy away from directly challenging the government. He criticised President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration for suppressing dissent, monopolising power through the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), and manipulating electoral processes via institutions such as the National Electoral Commission (NEC) and the National Identification Authority (NIDA).
“This election is a trap,” Tesha warned. He alleged systematic voter suppression, falsified results, and intimidation tactics designed to entrench CCM dominance.
Tanzanian Army Captain Calls for Temporary Military Takeover Ahead of Contentious Elections
Perhaps most striking was Tesha’s denunciation of a so-called “deep state” — a shadow network of political elites allegedly embedded across the military, judiciary, police, and media. Tesha accused figures including former President Jakaya Kikwete and businessman Rostam Aziz of corruption scandals dating back to Kikwete’s administration (2005–2015), including the Richmond energy deal fraud, the Tegeta Escrow misappropriations, and questionable contracts involving mining and infrastructure projects such as the Bagamoyo Port.
He claimed these networks persist under President Suluhu, continuing to privatise national assets while burdening citizens with taxes and stifling small businesses. He called for accountability and an investigation into Magufuli’s death, alleging foul play orchestrated by high-level insiders.
In a bold proposition, Tesha urged the TPDF to suspend the electoral process, arrest key political figures including Kikwete, Aziz, and others he named, and convene a national dialogue involving elders, judges such as Joseph Warioba, and civil society representatives. “The military must intervene temporarily to avert violence and restore order,” he declared, adding a caution that partisan involvement could erode public trust in the armed forces.
Hours after the video surfaced, the TPDF issued a terse statement through Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Colonel Bernard Masala Mlunga. The statement condemned attempts to politicise the military and suggested Tesha may be among “individuals” — possibly including dismissed personnel — seeking to draw the armed forces into partisan politics.
“The Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) informs the general public that some individuals have emerged who use social media to put out content that pushes to draw the military into political matters,” Colonel Mlunga said. “Those who were dismissed from service due to bad behaviour and misconduct… engaging in politics and activism.”
The TPDF reaffirmed its constitutional mandate to act “faithfully, obediently, and courageously,” without confirming whether Tesha remained in active service. No arrests or formal disciplinary action against him have been announced, leaving his fate unclear.
The episode underscores a profound trust deficit in Tanzanian institutions. A 2020 National Governance and Corruption Survey ranked the TPDF as the nation’s most trusted body, but Tesha’s call risks polarising opinion. Online reactions have been sharply split: some hail him as a patriot upholding Nyerere’s ideals, while others accuse him of recklessly undermining democratic processes.
With opposition figures facing increasing pressure, including CHADEMA leader Tundu Lissu’s exile, Tesha’s comments have intensified debate about the role of the military in politics. Judge Joseph Warioba and other civic leaders have reiterated that the armed forces should remain insulated from electoral disputes.
Tanzania now faces a precarious political moment. With elections days away, Tesha’s livestream has thrust the military’s role into the spotlight. Will the TPDF ignore his call and maintain strict neutrality, or will it heed his warnings and intervene?
For now, the TPDF’s statement signals caution, but Tesha’s defiant message — broadcast in uniform and widely shared online — ensures his challenge will reverberate through Tanzania’s political discourse in the days ahead.
Source- ZimEye
