Niffer: Tanzanian TikTok star's arrest, treason charge spark outrage across Africa

As Tanzania continues to reel from the ugly aftermath of the disputed October 29 elections - which saw hundreds killed, protests break out and polling stations razed - one Tanzanian social media personality continues to languish in police custody as the authorities clamp down even harder on anti-government youth.

Businesswoman and TikTok personality Jenifer Bilikwiza Jovin, popularly known as Niffer, was among 22 young people charged with treason in Dar es Salaam on Friday, November 7, following the violent unrest that erupted after the controversial elections.

Niffer, 26, was brought before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court where state attorneys read three charges against her, including claims that she encouraged people to disrupt the election and mobilized them to buy tear-gas protection masks from her shop in Sinza.

The first charge, which applies to all 22 accused persons, alleges that the group conspired to commit treason between early October and election day.

The second charge targets 21 of the suspects, excluding Niffer, and accuses them of attempting to block the election and damaging government property during the riots.

The third charge is directed at Niffer alone, accusing her of initiating plans to interfere with the election by urging people to prepare for protests.

Her lawyer, Peter Kibatala, told the court that Niffer was beaten by several police officers and forced to sign a statement before she was taken to court.

Videos showing Niffer and her co-accused arriving in court seemingly supported this claim - looking haggard and visibly drained, Niffer trodded down the path to court, her face and eyes betraying the pain of a distraught woman caught up in the harsh dragnet of President Samia Suluhu's disciplinarians.

Other heart-wrenching videos from that day showed the detainees alighting from a prison bus, many looking disheveled, some limping and others visibly weak, sparking concerns about possible mistreatment while in police custody. 

Niffer was first taken into custody on October 27, after social media reports claimed she had been abducted.

Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander Jumanne Muliro later confirmed that she had been arrested in Sinza and questioned over allegations of inciting unrest ahead of the election.

As Niffer's troubles deepened, her mother Mwanaisha Isaac publicly broke down, sinking to her knees and begging for forgiveness from President Suluhu.

“I would like to apologise on behalf of my daughter for whatever mistakes she made,” she said, fighting back tears. “She is the breadwinner in this family, and without her, we shall suffer.”

Mwanaisha, who is jobless, disclosed that she depended on her daughter to support the family, including Niffer’s younger siblings whose school fees and daily needs were all catered for by the businesswoman.

Describing her daughter as a “well-known citizen who never gets into trouble with the law,” she expressed disbelief that Niffer now faces one of the country’s most serious charges.

She reminded the President that just last year, her daughter launched a challenge in support of the government, an initiative she said reflected Niffer’s patriotism and loyalty.

“The way she pushed that narrative should tell you just how much she loves and respects you as our head of state,” she pleaded.

Niffer’s lawyer told the media that “she allegedly encouraged people to buy face masks to protect themselves from tear gas.”

According to prosecutors, this is conspiracy to commit treason as it amounts to promoting resistance against State authorities, a claim her lawyer has continued to strongly contest.

Reading their charges, Senior State Attorney Clemence Kato stated that the accused face three charges, the first being conspiracy, and the other two counts of treason.

Elaborating, the attorney said that between April 15, 2025, and October 29, 2025, at various locations within Ubungo district in Dar es Salaam, the accused allegedly conspired and secretly planned to commit the offence of treason.

Niffer's arrest, detention and subsequent prosecution has continued to ignite heated debate across Tanzanian social media platforms, with an overwhelming majority of Tanzanians throwing their weight behind her and agitating for her unconditional release.

Others have strongly questioned the charges levelled against her, faulting the government for its high-handedness and the obvious physical and emotional abuses meted on the TikTok star.

Many commentators have said that, the charges brought against Niffer are baseless and ridiculous, given that her only problem is participating in a viral Tanzanian TikTok dance dubbed "Nywinywi" and which used Suluhu's voice as she says, "Hakutakuwa na nywinywi, nywinywi wala nywinywinyi,” which can be loosely translated as “no more excuses” or “we are done being fooled.”

And in a defiant show of support, thousands over the weekend turned up at her cosmetics shop dubbed 'Niffer Mall' where they jammed the counter, sweeping everything off the shelves and flooding her account with money as they openly stood up to President Suluhu's crackdowns, taking up the gauntlet and standing in defiant solidarity with Niffer.

Beyond the Tanzanian borders, Niffer also found support among Kenyans on X - and across Africa - as they blasted the Suluhu regime for the vicious arrests and dubious charges on her own citizens. 

Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin'ono wrote on X: "The Tanzanian regime accuses her of two counts of treason, conspiracy to damage infrastructure, and incitement during the general election — all stemming from this harmless online challenge. That is how absurd and repressive Madam Dictator’s Tanzania has become, a complete laughing stock before the world!"

Nigerian financial expert Kalu Aja also weighed in, saying: "In Tanzania, they are arresting kids for dancing and charging them with treason. Feudalism masquerading as democracy."

On her part Ghanaian writer Abiola Abajo wrote: "So much for ‘when women lead, things will change.’ A woman leads yet still perpetuates the same authoritarian tendencies, silencing dissent, criminalising expression, enabling state intimidation. It really forces us to rethink what we mean by representation."

Ugandan X user Crypto Mashiriki also chimed: "Sentencing a content creator to death by hanging for dancing to a sound clip even from the president—is outrageous and a blatant violation of human rights. Freedom of expression must never be met with such cruelty. The world must speak out!"

Treason, the crime Niffer is charged with, is a capital offense defined in the Penal Code of Tanzania, specifically under Chapter VII, Sections 39, 40, and 41, which cover "Treason and Other Offences Against the Republic," "Treasonable Felony," and "Misprision of Treason," respectively.

It involves acts as; Waging war against the Republic, attempting to overthrow the Government by unlawful means, aiding a public enemy and conspiring with any person to effect any of these acts.

It is also one of the offenses in Tanzania that carry the death penalty.