The remains of a high-ranking Tanzanian opposition official, who was forcibly taken from a bus by armed individuals, were discovered on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam.
The body showed clear signs of physical assault and chemical burns, as reported by his political party.
Ally Kibao, a key member of the Chadema party’s secretariat, was found dead, an incident that could undermine the reformist stance of President Samia Suluhu Hassan. She has been working to reduce government repression following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli, three years ago.
Kibao’s body was located on Saturday morning, just a day after he was abducted from a bus traveling from Dar es Salaam to the port city of Tanga, according to Freeman Mbowe, chairman of Chadema, who shared the details with the media late Sunday.
“The (preliminary) post-mortem has been done and it is obvious that Ally Kibao has been killed after being severely beaten and even having acid poured on his face,” Mr Mbowe said, adding that a full autopsy report would be completed on Monday.
President Hassan said she had ordered an investigation into what she described as Kibao’s assassination.
“Our country is democratic, and every citizen has the right to live. The government I lead does not tolerate such brutal acts,” she wrote on X on Sunday.