Zambian activist denied entry to Tanzania after passport cancelled

Zambian activist Charles Kakula says he was denied entry into Tanzania at Julius Nyerere International Airport after discovering that his passport had been cancelled. Speaking on the EMV Breakfast Show, he said he had received no notice of the cancellation and no public announcement had been made. He said he is now back in Europe, without specifying the country.

Key facts

• Refused entry at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Tanzania
• Reason given: his passport was cancelled, he says without notice
• He was travelling to a Catholic ordination ceremony at St. Augustine University of Tanzania in Morogoro
• He says he was not arrested or detained, only denied entry
• Authorities say they are pursuing cyber and hate speech allegations against him

What happened?

Kakula told the EMV Breakfast Show that he had been travelling to St. Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT), which falls under Jordan University College (JUCo) in Morogoro, Tanzania. The occasion was a ceremony ordaining Catholic priests.

He said he was refused entry at Julius Nyerere International Airport when it emerged that his passport had been cancelled. Kakula stressed that he was neither arrested nor detained, but simply denied entry into Tanzania.

Why was his passport cancelled?

Kakula said he was surprised that his passport had been cancelled without any notice to him and without any public announcement. The source gives no further detail on who cancelled the document or on what grounds, and states no date for the incident.

What did Zambian officials do?

Kakula said Zambia's Deputy High Commissioner to Tanzania, Antjony Bwalya, visited him and brought him food. He said he turned the food away because priests who were in solidarity with him had already met his needs. Kakula also accused Bwalya of seeking his arrest and deportation to Zambia.

What allegations does he face?

Authorities have disclosed that they are pursuing cyber and hate speech allegations against Kakula. The source does not name the authorities involved, give details of the allegations or say what stage any proceedings have reached.

What this means for travellers

This account illustrates one practical consequence of passport cancellation: a traveller can be stopped at a foreign airport and refused entry when the document is no longer valid, even without prior notice. Travellers can reduce the risk of being turned away at check-in or immigration by confirming that their passport is still valid before they travel.

What happens next is not specified. The source gives no information on whether the cancellation of Kakula's passport will be reviewed, or on any next step in the cyber and hate speech allegations.