Kenya, Aug. 13 -- In a serious legal case that has caught the attention of many around the world, Tundu Lissu, the outspoken leader of Tanzania's main opposition party, Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), is still in jail facing serious charges of treason that could lead to the death penalty.
Recently, a Tanzanian high court rejected Lissu's request to challenge the government's choice to keep the names of witnesses in his trial secret. This decision has made people worry that he won't get a fair trial.
The situation has raised alarms about the decreasing freedom in Tanzania under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who seems to be using harsh tactics like her predecessor, John Magufuli.
Lissu is a 57-year-old lawyer and was a presidential candidate. He was arrested on April 9, 2025, after speaking at a rally in Mbinga, Ruvuma Region. During this rally, he criticized the government's handling of elections and police violence.
The serious charges against him, treason and sharing false information under the Cyber Crimes Act, come from things he said in a YouTube video and at the rally. He was accused of saying that President Suluhu was manipulating elections, using police to steal votes, and choosing judges who support the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM).
The prosecutors say these statements were false and aimed to incite rebellion, but Lissu's lawyers argue that this is politically motivated. They say, "You cannot separate these charges from politics. Tundu Lissuwas educating party supporters, not creating trouble."
The treason charge is particularly concerning because it could lead to a death sentence. In Tanzania, people facing treason charges cannot receive bail, which means Lissu is stuck in detention with no clear end in sight.
The court's recent decision to allow anonymous witnesses, something that CHADEMA supporters call a "dangerous precedent", has made many people lose faith in the fairness of the judiciary.
One activist, @TitoMagoti, wrote on @X, saying this is a sad moment for democracy and warning that secret evidence could be used to silence political opposition.
Lissu's detention is just one part of a larger crackdown on CHADEMA and other opposition leaders as Tanzania prepares for general elections in October 2025.
On April 12, 2025, the Independent National Elections Commission stopped CHADEMA from taking part in the elections because the party refused to sign the 2025 Election Code of Ethics.
They claimed they needed important changes to the electoral process. CHADEMA's campaign, called "No Reforms, No Elections," demands an independent electoral commission and clear rules to prevent unfair disqualifications of candidates, reflecting long-standing issues with Tanzania's electoral system.
These actions by the government have received strong criticism from human rights groups and international observers @amnesty has called for Lissu's immediate release, labeling his detention as part of a "campaign of repression" to silence critics.
The Human Rights Foundation, based in New York, reported that at least three other opposition figures are missing after suspected kidnappings by state security agents.
Lissu's international legal team has filed a petition to the @UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, arguing that his arrest goes against international human rights laws, including the right to free speech and political involvement. They say the timing highlights both his urgent situation and the worsening decline of democratic freedoms in Tanzania.
President Suluhu, who became president in 2021 after Magufuli's sudden death, initially gave people hope for democratic changes. She allowed opposition rallies again and let Lissu return to the country in 2023 after he survived an assassination attempt in 2017 and spent years in exile. However, these early promises seem to have changed, leading to new repression.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.