The family of Dainess Raphael Sisa can finally begin to heal after weeks of fear, grief, and uncertainty. Dainess, a young Tanzanian woman who went missing during the violent aftermath of the October 29, 2025 general election, has been found dead—bringing both painful truth and long-awaited closure to her loved ones.
Dainess was among the more than 3,000 people who were reportedly killed during the unrest that followed the disputed election. Many others were injured or remain missing, and several people who had been jailed on treason charges have since been released—except for one TikToker who is still in custody. For families like Dainess’s, the weeks following the election have been filled with confusion and heartbreak.
Eyewitnesses had earlier told the family that Dainess was shot dead in the Tabata area. Despite searching everywhere, they could not find her body. With no answers and no remains, the family was forced to hold a memorial service on November 14 with only her photograph placed at the front of the church—a painful reminder that they might never know what truly happened to her.
But hope returned when the family finally traced her body to Kivule Hospital, where it had been preserved. On November 22, confirmation arrived: Dainess had indeed been found.
Her brother, Peter, spoke honestly during the funeral. He said the family felt both joy and sadness—joy because they could finally see their beloved daughter and sister one last time, and sadness because they knew this final goodbye marked the end of a long, painful journey.
Dainess was laid to rest at Gide Cemetery in Ubungo-Kibo, bringing her family the closure they had searched for since the chaos began.
Her story is one of many tragedies following the post-election violence in Tanzania—a reminder of the deep human cost borne by families who lost loved ones or are still waiting for answers.
