Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), has reported that its Director of Communications and Publicity, Brenda Rupia, was barred from crossing into Kenya on Saturday, July 12, 2025.

In a statement shared on the party’s official X account, Chadema disclosed that Rupia was detained by Tanzanian immigration officials at the Namanga border point while attempting to travel to Nairobi. The party further claimed that authorities intend to forcibly return her to Dar es Salaam.

“Today, Saturday, July 12, 2025, our Director of Communications and Publicity, Ms. Brenda Rupia, was denied entry into Kenya and is currently being held at the Namanga border. We have received reliable information that she is to be deported to Dar es Salaam,” the statement read in part.

According to Chadema, Rupia was heading to Nairobi for a scheduled meeting before proceeding to Munich, Germany, to attend a democracy and elections training programme.

The party has strongly condemned the incident, accusing President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration of waging a systematic campaign of repression against opposition leaders by curtailing their travel rights.

“This is not an isolated case but part of a wider pattern of political repression aimed at silencing Chadema leadership and limiting their participation in regional and international democratic forums,” the statement added.

Chadema cited similar recent incidents, including the case of Amani Golugwa, the Acting Deputy Secretary General for Mainland Tanzania, who was reportedly blocked from leaving the country, and Godbless Lema, the party’s Finance Committee Chairperson, who also faced travel restrictions.

Lema, sharing his ordeal, confirmed that he was prevented from travelling for medical reasons and had his passport confiscated.

“After being held for over four hours, I’ve officially been banned from travelling. My passport has been seized, and I’ve been instructed to report to Immigration Headquarters in Dodoma. I was meant to undergo a medical check-up in Nairobi tomorrow. This situation is deeply painful,” said Lema.

He added, “I hope this suffering will one day end not just for us, but for our children and even the children of those who oppress us. No one deserves to live like this. We will overcome.”

Chadema has demanded the unconditional release of Brenda Rupia and called on the government to respect the constitutional right to freedom of movement and political engagement.