Tundu Lissu Faces Treason Charges in Tanzania Before 2025 Elections
Tundu Lissu, a well-known opposition leader in Tanzania, has been charged with treason, a crime that carries the death penalty in the country. This comes just six months before the 2025 national elections.
Lissu, 57, is a lawyer and politician who has spent many years fighting for democracy and human rights in Tanzania. He has survived an assassination attempt, faced multiple arrests, and lived in exile — all for standing up to the government.
In court, Lissu told his supporters:
“The treason case is a path to liberation.”
Return from Exile and Renewed Hope
After spending years in exile, Lissu returned to Tanzania in 2023. He was hopeful when President Samia Suluhu Hassan removed some restrictions put in place by her predecessor, John Magufuli. Under Magufuli, the opposition was often silenced, and many citizens feared speaking out.
However, the hope for change faded quickly. Under Hassan’s leadership, opposition party activities have again been blocked. Police have stopped rallies, arrested party members, and made it harder for people to speak freely.
Blocking Elections, Not Boycotting
In late 2024, President Hassan’s ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), won local elections. Lissu’s party, Chadema, accused the government of unfair practices and promised to take the case to court.
Lissu, newly named Chadema’s chairman, made it clear that his party would not simply walk away from the national elections:
“When we say no elections, we don’t mean we will boycott. We will block the elections through confrontation.”
But now, Chadema is barred from participating in the elections after refusing to sign the official electoral code of conduct.
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Surviving 16 Bullets: The 2017 Assassination Attempt
In 2017, Tundu Lissu was shot 16 times in broad daylight near his home in Dodoma. The attack nearly killed him. He spent years recovering, undergoing almost 20 surgeries.
“All my limbs, my legs, my waist, my arms, my stomach were basically ripped apart,” Lissu said in an earlier interview.
That same year, he had already been arrested six times for his political activities. After the 2020 elections, he began receiving death threats and left the country again for his safety.
From Humble Beginnings to National Politics
Lissu was born in 1968 in the village of Mahambe, in Tanzania’s Singida region. As a child, he helped on the family farm and looked after cattle. He later studied law at the University of Dar es Salaam, where his passion for justice and politics grew.
He began his career in human rights and environmental law, working with organizations like the Lawyers’ Environmental Action Team (LEAT) and the World Resources Institute (WRI).
A Lifelong Fighter for Justice
Lissu became a Member of Parliament in 2010. Since then, he has been a strong voice against corruption and environmental damage, especially from foreign mining companies. His bold actions made him one of Tanzania’s most recognized opposition figures.
Despite constant threats and arrests, Lissu refuses to back down.
What’s Next for Tundu Lissu?
As Lissu waits for his next court hearing, many in Tanzania and beyond are watching closely. Will the treason case silence him — or make him even more powerful?
Peter Madeleka, a prominent lawyer, wrote online:
“Tundu Lissu is the only person in the world who survived 16 bullets. Will the treason case succeed in ending his life?”
Activist Maria Sarungi added:
“She (President Hassan) hasn’t brought him down, she has elevated him. Tundu Lissu is like water — if you don’t drink it, you’ll bathe in it.”
Conclusion
Tundu Lissu’s story is one of courage, pain, and hope. Whether he ends up behind bars or on the campaign trail, his name remains a powerful symbol of resistance in Tanzania’s fight for democracy.
Tundu Lissu Faces Treason Charges in Tanzania Before 2025 Elections
