By Ebi Kesiena
Authorities in Tanzania have arrested Tundu Lissu, the leader of the country’s main opposition party, Chadema, following a public rally in which he called for sweeping democratic reforms ahead of the general elections scheduled for October.
Lissu, a former presidential candidate and long-standing critic of the ruling government, was reportedly taken into custody in Mbinga District, Ruvuma Region, shortly after addressing a gathering of supporters. His party confirmed the arrest, raising concerns about political repression and the shrinking space for opposition voices in the East African nation.
According to Chadema spokesperson Brenda Rupia, Lissu was arrested alongside several other party officials and supporters.
“Tundu Lissu has been arrested by the police in Mbinga shortly after addressing a public meeting. We are currently unaware of where he has been taken,” she told reporters.
The rally, one of several organised as part of Chadema’s national campaign under the banner “No Reforms, No Election”, sought to raise awareness about the need for an independent electoral commission, equal access to media, and safeguards against state intimidation ahead of the 2025 polls.
Eyewitnesses in Mbinga said the police responded to the crowd with force, reportedly using tear gas to disperse supporters who had gathered peacefully. Video clips circulating on social media show chaos breaking out at the venue moments after Lissu concluded his remarks.
Tundu Lissu’s arrest marks a significant moment in Tanzania’s political landscape. The outspoken opposition figure has a history of clashing with the authorities. In 2017, he narrowly survived an assassination attempt in which he was shot 16 times in what he and his supporters believe was a politically motivated attack. After years of treatment abroad, he returned to Tanzania and contested the 2020 presidential election, coming second to the incumbent, President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Since returning to active politics, Lissu has led a vocal campaign demanding meaningful electoral reforms, warning that without them, any upcoming elections would be a mere façade. His arrest has drawn swift condemnation from human rights groups, civil society organisations, and regional observers who have long expressed concern over Tanzania’s democratic backsliding in recent years.
“This arrest is an affront to the democratic process,” said a statement by the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition. “Peaceful political engagement should not be met with force or intimidation. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Lissu and other detained party members.”
Meanwhile, the Tanzanian Police Force has yet to release an official statement regarding the arrest or the charges, if any, that Lissu may face. The silence from authorities has only fuelled further concern among his supporters and the international community.
