Tundu Lissu faces treason charges after rally speech. His arrest sparks concerns over Tanzania’s democracy ahead of the 2025 elections.
Tundu Lissu Charged With Treason Ahead of Tanzania’s 2025 Polls
Tundu Lissu, chairperson of Tanzania’s main opposition party CHADEMA, has been charged with treason after calling for electoral reforms during a public rally in Mbinga, southern Tanzania.
The charges come just months before Tanzania’s October 2025 general elections, intensifying concerns about political freedom and the future of democratic reforms under President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
“This is not just about me. It’s about Tanzanians’ right to vote freely and fairly,” Lissu said while appearing at the Kisutu Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam on April 11.
🚔 Arrest Sparks Outrage and Global Scrutiny
Lissu was arrested on April 10, shortly after addressing supporters at a peaceful CHADEMA rally. In video footage widely shared online, he is seen refusing to board a police vehicle.
“I came here, we held a peaceful meeting, and now I understand the tactics of the police. I will not enter the vehicle… We will sleep here,” he declared before police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Rights groups, including Amnesty International, condemned the arrest, calling the charges “a serious blow to freedom of expression and assembly in Tanzania.”
🗳️ The Push for Electoral Reform
At the rally, Lissu demanded an independent electoral commission, accusing the current body of favoring the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which has ruled since independence in 1961.
“We cannot go into another election under a system rigged in favor of the ruling party,” he warned.
With elections due in October 2025, opposition parties—including ACT-Wazalendo—have stepped up calls for transparency and electoral justice.
Explore our 2025 Tanzania Election Tracker for updates on campaigns, candidates, and legal challenges.
🔫 Survivor of 2017 Assassination Attempt
Lissu, a former MP and presidential candidate, survived a near-fatal shooting in 2017 after 16 bullets were fired at him outside his home in Dodoma. No one has been brought to justice for the attack.
He returned from self-imposed exile in Belgium in 2023, hopeful that President Samia’s initial overtures—such as lifting the ban on opposition rallies—signaled a new democratic chapter.
⚖️ Samia’s Democratic Credentials Under Fire
While President Samia Suluhu Hassan came to power in 2021 pledging dialogue, critics say recent moves—including the arrest of opposition supporters in Mwanza and now Lissu’s case—signal a return to repression.
“Tundu Lissu’s case is a test for Tanzania’s democratic credentials under President Samia,” said Zitto Kabwe, leader of ACT-Wazalendo.
The government insists that Lissu’s arrest followed legal procedures. “Tanzania remains committed to peace, stability, and constitutional order,” said Home Affairs Ministry spokesperson David Misime.
Read our profile on President Samia’s political journey.
🔍 What’s Next?
Lissu is currently held in custody awaiting further court proceedings. CHADEMA has vowed to mount a legal and regional campaign to pressure the government and international actors to intervene.
“They may silence Lissu for a day, but they cannot silence the will of the people forever,” said party Secretary-General John Mnyika.
Tanzania’s National Electoral Commission has yet to respond to CHADEMA’s demands for structural reforms.
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