Tanzania’s leading opposition party, CHADEMA, has raised serious concerns over the whereabouts and wellbeing of its vice chairman and prominent political figure, Tundu Lissu, who remains in detention on treason charges. The party claims it has been denied access to Lissu since his arrest earlier this month, sparking fears about his safety and growing alarm over what critics call an intensifying crackdown on dissent.
Lissu, a vocal critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration and runner-up in the 2020 presidential election, was detained on April 9 following a public speech in which he called for comprehensive electoral reforms. Authorities later charged him with treason, accusing him of inciting an uprising against the government.
Since then, CHADEMA says neither Lissu’s legal team nor his family has been able to see him, despite multiple attempts to do so at Keko Prison in Dar es Salaam, where he is reportedly being held.
Opposition Demands Accountability
In a strongly worded statement released Friday, CHADEMA held the Tanzanian government and the country’s Prisons Service responsible for Lissu’s safety and demanded immediate access to their detained leader.
“We are deeply disturbed by the continued denial of access to our Vice Chairman, Tundu Lissu,” the party said. “The government and the Prisons Service will be held fully accountable should anything happen to him.”
The statement further accused authorities of violating Lissu’s constitutional rights and flouting due process by keeping him incommunicado.
Prison Authorities Deny Allegations
In response to the claims, the Tanzanian Prisons Service issued its own statement dismissing CHADEMA’s allegations as baseless and misleading. The agency insisted that Lissu remains in custody at Keko Prison and that he is safe and being treated in accordance with national laws.
“We would like to inform the public that Tundu Lissu is safe and he is still detained at Keko Prison in Dar es Salaam according to the country’s laws and procedures,” the Prisons Service said.
The agency, however, did not address the specific issue of whether family members and lawyers had been denied access, further fueling suspicions and concern among the opposition and civil society.
Treason Charge Sparks Outcry
Lissu’s arrest and subsequent treason charge have drawn criticism from rights groups, political analysts, and opposition leaders, who argue that the move is aimed at silencing one of the country’s most outspoken reformists ahead of the 2025 general election.
According to state prosecutors, Lissu’s offense stems from a public address in which he called on Tanzanians to push for electoral reform. The speech, delivered during a CHADEMA-organized rally in northern Tanzania, allegedly amounted to incitement and was interpreted by authorities as an attempt to provoke unrest.
“Calling for election reform is not a crime—it is a democratic right,” said Fatma Karume, a Tanzanian constitutional lawyer and human rights advocate. “The use of treason charges in this context is clearly political.”
Mounting Pressure on the Opposition
Lissu’s detention comes amid growing reports of government repression targeting opposition parties and activists. This week, Tanzania’s National Electoral Commission issued a ban against CHADEMA, barring it from participating in upcoming local elections after the party refused to sign a declaration pledging to obey the commission’s decisions.
The commission claimed that CHADEMA’s refusal to sign the document constituted non-compliance. But the opposition argues the requirement is arbitrary and unconstitutional.
“We cannot be forced to sign away our rights just to participate in elections,” said CHADEMA chairman Freeman Mbowe. “This is a direct attempt to eliminate opposition voices from the democratic process.”
He added: “What we are witnessing is the systematic dismantling of political pluralism in Tanzania. The ban, the arrests, and now the isolation of our vice chairman—all of this is part of a broader strategy to silence us.”
A Troubled Political Landscape
Lissu’s political career has been marked by both influence and adversity. A former Member of Parliament and a long-standing advocate for reform, he survived an assassination attempt in 2017 when he was shot multiple times outside his home in Dodoma. After receiving medical treatment abroad, he returned to Tanzania in 2020 to contest the presidency, finishing second behind President Hassan.
Despite persistent threats to his life and repeated arrests, Lissu has remained one of the most recognizable figures in Tanzanian politics and a symbol of resistance for opposition supporters.
His latest arrest underscores what critics say is a deepening authoritarian turn under President Hassan, who took office in 2021 following the death of her predecessor, John Magufuli. Though initially welcomed by some for her more conciliatory tone, Hassan’s administration has increasingly come under fire for failing to protect civil liberties.
International Community Urged to Intervene
As the situation escalates, calls are mounting for the international community to intervene and hold Tanzania accountable for its human rights obligations. Several human rights groups have issued statements condemning the treatment of Lissu and urging transparency.
“The arbitrary detention of opposition leaders and denial of legal access are signs of a democracy in crisis,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Director for East and Southern Africa. “The Tanzanian authorities must immediately grant Tundu Lissu access to his lawyers and family and ensure his rights are protected.”
Diplomatic missions in Tanzania have remained largely silent, though insiders say discussions are ongoing behind closed doors.
Conclusion
The ongoing detention of Tundu Lissu without access to legal counsel or family members marks a troubling chapter in Tanzania’s political journey. With the opposition increasingly sidelined and the space for democratic participation shrinking, questions are growing about the country’s trajectory as it heads toward another election season.
Whether the government will respond to mounting pressure—or continue down a path critics warn leads to authoritarianism—remains to be seen.
