Missing Tanzanian opposition activist ‘Mdude Chadema’ found alive

Mbeya. Opposition activist, who went missing on Saturday, May 4, 2019, has been found.

Mr Mdude Nyagali, who branded himself as Mdude Chadema, was found late on Wednesday night, 08 May 2019 at Inyala, Mbeya rural in circumstances that remain a subject of police investigations.

One of the people who picked him from where his ‘kidnappers’ had dumped him, Mr Anangisye Kwame, confirmed to The Citizen on Thursday about the incident.

“We have picked him. We are now taking him to the hospital for treatment. As we are talking, we are with him in a vehicle. He can speak but he needs to seek medical attention first,” he said.

News about Mdude being found was first issued – via WhatsApp groups - by the councilor for Nsalala, Mbalizi, Mr Kisman Mwangomale

Mr Mwangomale said he received a phone call from some people who introduced themselves as residents of Mwakwenje area, Inyala Village earlier on Thursday, informing him about the incident.

“It is true that ‘Mdude’ is now in our hands. After receiving the phone call, I decided to post the issue on WhatsApp groups so we could get quick help on how to pick him,” he told The Citizen on Thursday.

A few minutes later, the Chadema head of information and communication, Mr Tumaini Makene, issued a statement, confirming that ‘Mdude’ had been found alive.

“Our comrade, ‘Mdude’, has been found alive. I have heard him struggling to speak and I got convinced that he is surely the one. We will issue a statement later,” he said.

Mdude was allegedly picked from his office on Saturday unknown people who had come in two white vehicles.

They took him by force and went with him to an unknown place.

On Sunday, the main opposition party, Chadema, reported about the disappearance of Mr Nyagali.