Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, chairman of the CHADEMA party, has been charged with treason following his arrest at a rally where he demanded electoral reforms ahead of October’s general elections.
The charges, which carry the death penalty, stem from remarks he allegedly made urging supporters to “spoil” and “disrupt” the polls unless systemic changes are implemented.
Lissu was detained on Wednesday evening in Mbinga, over 1,000 km from Dar es Salaam, after addressing a crowd under his party’s “No Reforms, No Election” campaign. Police reportedly teargassed his supporters during the arrest, which CHADEMA members called an abuse of power aimed at silencing dissent.
At a court appearance on Thursday, Lissu appeared defiant, arriving “in high spirits” alongside lawyers and allies. He pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of publishing false information but was barred from entering a plea on the treason charge, which has been adjourned until 24 April.
The prosecution alleges Lissu incited rebellion during a 3 April speech in Dar es Salaam, quoting him as saying: “We will inspire rebellion. That is the way to get change.” His lawyer, Rugemeleza Nshala, dismissed the charges as politically motivated, arguing that Lissu’s calls for an independent electoral commission and fair voting laws are lawful.
The case intensifies scrutiny of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who initially won praise for rolling back the authoritarian policies of her predecessor, John Magufuli. However, her administration now faces accusations of reverting to repression, with human rights groups citing a surge in arrests, abductions, and lethal force against opposition figures.
Lissu survived an assassination attempt in 2017 under Magufuli’s rule, during which he was shot 16 times. He later fled into exile, returning in 2023 after Samia eased restrictions on dissent.
