By Staff Reporter
On October 28, 2025, Dr. Blessing Vava, Director of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, was denied entry into Tanzania and forcibly deported after being detained at Julius Nyerere International Airport.
Dr. Vava, who had arrived in Tanzania on a solidarity mission to meet with local civil society organizations (CSOs) and social movements facing repression, was detained by immigration officials upon his arrival. His passport was immediately confiscated, and he endured several hours of intense questioning and profiling in isolated rooms at the airport.
After a lengthy interrogation, Dr. Vava was informed that he was deemed a “security risk” and would be deported back to Zimbabwe on October 29, 2025. Despite his repeated attempts to understand the reasons behind his deportation, no clear explanation was provided, and he was not accused of committing any crime.
The human rights advocate was then placed in holding cells at the airport, where he spent the night without any blankets or basic comfort, raising concerns over his treatment.
The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition strongly condemns this act, calling it a violation of human rights and a blatant disregard for the dignity of African citizens. The organization also decried the ongoing harassment and deportations of human rights defenders, including election observers, whose work—focused on promoting democracy, good governance, and human rights—should not be criminalized.
“This act stands in direct opposition to the values of Ubuntu and Pan-Africanism that were championed by leaders like the late Julius Nyerere,” the Coalition said in a statement. “We must continue to support and protect those fighting for the betterment of society, not punish them for their efforts.”
Dr. Vava’s deportation comes amid rising political tensions in Tanzania, where President Samia Suluhu’s increasingly authoritarian government has faced criticism for stifling dissent in the lead-up to what many are calling a sham election.
