Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu was arrested on Wednesday shortly after addressing supporters at a rally in the southern Ruvuma Region, according to his party, fueling concerns over a deteriorating political climate ahead of the country’s general elections later this year.
Lissu, a high-profile member of the opposition party Chadema and a vocal critic of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration, was reportedly detained along with senior party officials in Mbinga District. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd gathered for the rally, which was part of the party’s ongoing “No Reforms, No Election” campaign, advocating for comprehensive changes to Tanzania’s electoral system.
Brenda Rupia, Chadema’s director of communications, condemned the arrest, calling it “a deliberate attempt to muzzle dissent and intimidate opposition leaders.”
“We are being harassed and persecuted for simply exercising our constitutional rights,” she said.
Lissu, a former presidential candidate and prominent human rights lawyer, has been touring the country demanding electoral transparency and fairness. He is a survivor of a 2017 assassination attempt, during which unknown assailants fired dozens of bullets at his vehicle, leaving him with serious injuries.
Repression to Opposition Raises Concerns
Chadema claims Lissu’s detention is part of a wider pattern of political repression. In recent months, several of its members have reportedly been abducted or attacked. In October 2024, senior official Aisha Machano was abducted and left seriously injured, while in September, regional leader Ali Kibao was found dead after a similar incident.
“These incidents reflect a coordinated effort to stifle political opposition and restrict democratic freedoms,” Rupia said.
When President Samia took office in 2021 following the death of former leader John Magufuli, her administration was initially praised for loosening political restrictions. Public rallies were permitted once again, and exiled politicians, including Lissu, were allowed to return. However, observers now say that early hopes for reform are fading.
Rights groups and foreign observers have voiced concern over what they see as increasing authoritarian tactics, including surveillance, arrests, and violent intimidation of activists. Many fear a return to the repressive style of governance seen under Magufuli’s rule.
As of Thursday, police had yet to issue a formal statement on Lissu’s arrest. Attempts by local media to obtain a comment from regional law enforcement officials were unsuccessful.
With elections approaching, opposition parties warn that without urgent reforms and a restoration of political freedoms, the legitimacy of the vote may be in question.
“Democracy in Tanzania is hanging by a thread,” Rupia said. “The people deserve a free and fair electoral process—not fear and violence.”