A joint statement issued by the ACT Wazalendo party regional chairpersons in Zanzibar has expressed strong support for the party’s Central Committee resolutions rejecting the findings of the Commission of Inquiry led by Justice Chande into the alleged killings of October 29, 2025, and calling for further independent investigations.
The statement, signed collectively by chairpersons from all 11 party regions in Zanzibar, follows a special Central Committee meeting held on May 3, 2026, which reviewed the political situation in the country and discussed the report presented by the commission.
According to the party leadership, the Central Committee rejected the report and raised concerns about its credibility, fairness, and conclusions.
In their joint position, the regional chairpersons said they fully support the Central Committee’s decision to dismiss the Commission’s findings, arguing that the commission had failed to establish accountability for those allegedly responsible for the deaths of civilians during the October 2025 events.
They further claimed that the commission appeared to protect rather than hold accountable those implicated in the violence, a position that remains part of the party’s political stance.
The statement also alleges that the commission’s work did not deliver justice to victims and instead left many questions unanswered.
The party leadership insisted that the findings, as presented, do not reflect the seriousness of the incidents and called for a more independent and internationally supervised investigation into the matter.
The ACT Wazalendo leaders further called for the release of individuals they described as being held in politically related cases, including opposition figure Tundu Lissu, and urged accountability measures against individuals and institutions they believe contributed to the October 2025 violence.
Among those mentioned in their statement are senior officials in security, electoral, and administrative institutions, including leadership within the intelligence services, police force, electoral commission, and registrar of political parties, as well as several regional and district leaders across different parts of Tanzania.
The regional chairpersons also reiterated their support for broader reforms, including the process toward a new constitution, restructuring of the police force, and the repeal of what they described as restrictive laws governing elections and political party activities.
They further referenced previous reform recommendations, including those associated with past constitutional review processes.
In their statement, the leaders urged the President of the United Republic of Tanzania to make the full Commission of Inquiry report public, arguing that transparency would allow citizens to better understand the methodology and findings of the investigation.
They said the summary presented publicly had raised more questions than answers, especially given the seriousness of the issues under investigation.
The statement also expressed solidarity with former Prime Minister Judge Joseph Sinde Warioba, praising his stance on the matter and condemning any alleged attempts to intimidate or pressure him.
The leaders emphasized the importance of allowing senior national figures to express their views freely on matters of national interest, stating that truth, in their view, cannot be permanently concealed.
Additionally, the regional chairpersons commended various legal, human rights, civil society, and professional organizations for what they described as their efforts to speak out on the October 2025 events.
Among those acknowledged were legal associations, governance and transparency forums, and human rights organizations, which the statement said had played a role in advancing public debate on justice, accountability, and human rights.
They also recognized religious leaders, activists, and journalists who, according to the statement, have continued to advocate for truth and accountability regarding the events in question.
The leaders called for continued unity among stakeholders working on democracy, human rights, and good governance issues in Tanzania.
The statement concluded by emphasizing unity among those seeking justice, arguing that collective action among advocates of accountability and democracy would ensure that wrongdoing does not prevail over truth and justice.
The position taken by the Zanzibar regional chairpersons adds to ongoing national debate surrounding the Commission of Inquiry report, which continues to draw mixed reactions from political actors, civil society groups, and government institutions.
