Opposition Leader, Tundu Lissu Detained on Treason Charges over “No reforms, No election” campaign
By Yahaya Idris
Tanzanian opposition leader, Tundu Lissu and head of the CHADEMA party, remains detained after his arrest on April 9, 2025, following a rally in Mbinga as part of CHADEMA’s “No Reforms, No Election” campaign demanding electoral reforms ahead of the October 2025 polls.
He was charged with treason, an offense carrying the death penalty and additional charges including publishing false information.
Lissu has been held at Keko Prison in Dar es Salaam but was reportedly moved to Ukonga Prison after concerns arose about his whereabouts and denial of access to lawyers and family.
CHADEMA officials have reported difficulty in visiting him, raising serious concerns about his safety and legal rights.
His arrest is widely viewed as part of governing government crackdown on opposition ahead of the elections, with CHADEMA disqualified from participating after refusing to sign the electoral code of conduct without reforms.
Human rights groups and legal bodies have condemned the arrest as politically motivated repression and called for his immediate release.
This arrest highlights mounting political repression in Tanzania, including bans on opposition rallies and recent disqualification of CHADEMA from elections.
As such developments cast doubt on the prospects for free and fair elections in the region.
