- Tanzanian Opposition Leader Tundu Lissu Charged with Treason
- Lissu Arrested, Charged Amid Electoral Reform Campaign
- Tanzania Cracks Down on Opposition: Lissu Faces Treason Charge
Tanzania’s opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, has been charged with treason just a day after his arrest following a rally in the southern part of the country.
The charge is tied to Lissu’s nationwide campaign advocating for electoral reform under the slogan “No Reforms, No Election.”
With the country set to hold elections in October, Lissu is expected to challenge President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
When Samia assumed office in 2021, following the death of her predecessor John Magufuli, she was initially lauded for reversing some of his authoritarian policies. However, her administration has since faced criticism for targeting opposition members with arrests and abductions.
In a series of public appearances, Lissu has argued that free and fair elections are impossible without significant reforms.
The Chadema party leader has called for changes to the composition of the electoral commission, insisting it should not include individuals directly appointed by Samia.
Authorities, however, have accused Lissu’s campaign of inciting public opposition to the upcoming general election.
Lissu’s history of arrests is well-documented. In 2017, during Magufuli’s presidency, he survived an assassination attempt in which he was shot 16 times.
Following the attack, he went into exile but returned briefly in 2020 to contest Magufuli in that year’s election. After the results were announced, Lissu left the country again, citing electoral irregularities.
In 2023, he returned to Tanzania after Samia introduced reforms that allowed greater freedom for the opposition.
On Thursday, police used tear gas to disperse Chadema supporters and blocked party leaders from holding a press conference about Lissu’s arrest.
Despite the crackdown, some party supporters remain defiant.
“We are surprised that the police are harassing us when our rallies are peaceful,” one supporter told the BBC. “We know the ruling party, CCM, is behind all this. We will fight for changes before elections.”
Rights groups have condemned the use of force, accusing the government of using state institutions to silence dissent.
A lawyers’ association described Lissu’s arrest and the suppression of his supporters as an abuse of power and a sign of political intolerance.
Lissu’s treason case has been adjourned until April 24.
