The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, Karagwe Diocese, Bishop Benson Bagonza: Photo: Courtesy
By Adonis Byemelwa
The abduction of Deusdedit Soka and his companions has sparked a nationwide outcry, casting a dark shadow over the country. This alarming event, which coincided with the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances on August 30, 2024, has heightened the public's demand for justice as fear grows over the rampant phenomenon of enforced disappearances.
For many, the day served as a harsh reminder of the government’s responsibility to protect its citizens. For the families of those abducted, however, it was another painful reminder that their loved ones remain missing, their whereabouts unknown, and their fates uncertain. Nowhere is this truer than in the case of Soka, whose mysterious disappearance continues to unsettle the nation.
Bishop Benson Bagonza, of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, Karagwe Diocese, shared a deeply personal story highlighting the growing terror surrounding such abductions. His 86-year-old mother, Professor Dorothea, expressed grave concern about her son’s safety in a phone call made on September 3, 2024.
“Don’t go out alone at night. Even when stepping outside for a short while, find someone to accompany you,” she warned him in a trembling voice. When Bagonza asked her why, her chilling response hit home: “The ones who abducted Soka will come for you too.”
This warning, rooted in the concern of a mother for her son, strikes at the heart of the fear gripping Tanzanian society, where no one feels safe, and the abductors of Soka remain elusive. As Bishop Bagonza reflected, “We live in a time where even stepping outside your home is an act of courage.”
With each passing day, the mystery of Soka’s abduction deepens, fueling speculation. Many theories have surfaced, each more unsettling than the last. One prevailing theory is that police abducted Soka to intimidate critics, a charge vehemently denied by the authorities.
A court case was even brought forward, where the police cleared themselves of any wrongdoing. Despite their legal victory, the public remains unconvinced.
“The police may have won their case in court, but they are losing in the court of public opinion,” Bishop Bagonza said, reflecting the widespread suspicion that continues to shroud the force. “The truth is, many believe the police are involved, regardless of the court’s ruling.”
Another theory floating around is that Chadema, the opposition party to which Soka belonged, orchestrated the abduction to implicate the police and shift public blame. Yet, even as days turn into weeks, there has been no concrete evidence to support this claim, and the public’s scrutiny of the police persists. As Bagonza wryly observed, “If Soka is never found, the police will remain the ones in the hot seat.”
There is also the unsettling possibility that criminal elements, masquerading as police officers, carried out the abduction. Should this be true, the implications are dire for the safety of every Tanzanian. “If the real culprits are criminals posing as police, then the danger is even greater.
They can strike anyone, anywhere,” Bagonza remarked. “And if the police cannot stop them, then who will protect us?”
This theory adds a layer of complexity to the situation, suggesting that the entire nation could be at risk, and not just political figures like Soka. It also raises the question of whether the police are capable of handling such threats.
An even more bizarre idea is that Soka and his companions staged their abduction to discredit both the police and their political rivals. “If this is a false flag operation, it would be one of the greatest deceptions in our history,” Bagonza speculated. “But the police should be able to see through such a scheme. If they can’t, then they’ve failed in their duty to uphold the law.”
Perhaps the most politically charged theory is that Soka was abducted by Chadema’s political rivals. According to this line of thought, his affiliation with the opposition made him a target. There is even talk that a supernatural force is compelling members of Chadema to confess to crimes they did not commit, further complicating an already convoluted situation.
Bagonza noted, “Whether or not there is circumstantial evidence, the truth remains elusive. The police have yet to produce a key witness, leaving us all in a state of fear and uncertainty.”
He added, “In four out of the five main theories circulating, the police are implicated in some way. Whoever kidnapped Soka has also managed to hold the police hostage, at least in the eyes of the public. The question now is, who will rescue the police from this web of suspicion?”
As Tanzanians, particularly in Karagwe, continue to reel from the fear and confusion surrounding the case, Bagonza’s words offer a sobering reflection on the role of law enforcement. The police force, once known for its “long arm” of justice, now faces intense public scrutiny, with doubts about its ability to protect and serve.
“Who cut the long arm of the law?” Bagonza asked pointedly. “Why is it that the police, who once apprehended criminals swiftly, now seem incapable of finding Soka?”
His question is a reminder of past police successes, like the quick arrest of those responsible for the murder of a young albino woman, Binti Asiimwe. That case was solved within 24 hours, setting a high bar for what the public expects from their police force.
Bagonza also referred to the infamous case of a traditional healer who buried people alive, a horror that still sends shivers down the spine of many Tanzanians. “We live in fear that one day we will hear Soka and his companions have been found in one of these graves,” Bagonza warned. “The thought that they may have visited a witch doctor to cast spells on their political rivals, only to fall victim to their schemes, is terrifying.”
For now, the silence surrounding the Soka case grows louder, filling the country with dread. Bishop Bagonza encapsulated the national sentiment when he said, “The silence surrounding Soka’s abduction is deafening. The longer it persists, the more we lose faith in those tasked with keeping us safe.”
As the mystery deepens and the days drag on without resolution, a chilling realization begins to take hold across the nation: the longer Deusdedit Soka and his companions remain missing, the more trust erodes in the institutions sworn to protect.
With each passing day, the silence from authorities becomes more damning, casting doubt not only on the possibility of justice but on the very fabric of the country’s rule of law. The unanswered questions surrounding Soka’s fate are no longer just about one man’s disappearance—they are a grim reflection of a system that seems increasingly paralyzed, unable to shield its citizens from the growing darkness.