Treason Charge Threatens Tanzania’s Opposition Leader’s Presidential Ambition

Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu has been charged with treason on Thursday, 10 April, a day after his arrest at a rally in the country’s south, escalating tensions ahead of October’s presidential election. The charges stem from his nationwide campaign demanding electoral reforms under the slogan “No Reforms, No Election,” which authorities accuse of inciting public opposition to the polls. 

Lissu, leader of the Chadema party and a vocal critic of the government, is expected to challenge President Samia Suluhu Hassan in the October polls. His arrest has drawn condemnation from rights groups and raised concerns about the fairness of the upcoming election. 

The arrest underscores mounting friction over Lissu’s calls to restructure Tanzania’s electoral commission, which opposition groups claim is biased due to direct presidential appointments. “There can be no free or fair election without reforms,” Lissu declared repeatedly in recent weeks, arguing that the current system favors the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party. 

Authorities, however, allege his campaign seeks to sabotage the electoral process. “Such rhetoric risks destabilizing national unity,” a government spokesperson said Thursday, without providing specifics. 

Lissu’s persecution is not isolated case. In 2017, he survived 16 bullet shooting and his self-exile after contested 2020 elections reveal a longstanding pattern of violence and legal harassment against critics. After fleeing into exile, he returned briefly in 2020 to contest Magufuli’s re-election but left again, citing vote-rigging. 

The recurrence of such tactics under Hassan—despite her early promises of tolerance—highlights systemic impunity for state-backed suppression. The timing of his arrest, just six months before the election, amplifies its disruptive impact, leaving opposition parties scrambling to reorganize while facing intimidation.

President Hassan, who took power in 2021 following Magufuli’s death, initially earned praise for easing repression, including allowing Lissu’s return in 2023. But recent months have seen a resurgence of crackdowns, with opposition figures reporting arrests, abductions, and harassment.  

On Thursday, police fired tear gas to disperse Chadema supporters protesting Lissu’s arrest and blocked party leaders from holding a press conference. “We’re peaceful, yet we’re met with violence,” a Chadema supporter told the BBC. “The CCM fears reform because they know they can’t win fairly.” 

Rights groups and legal associations have widely condemned the government’s actions. The Tanzania Lawyers’ Association called the arrest “an abuse of power” that “exposes the lack of political tolerance.” Amnesty International urged authorities to “stop weaponizing the law to silence dissent.” 

With Lissu’s treason case adjourned until April 24, the charges risk sidelining a key opposition figure during critical pre-election campaigning. Analysts warn the developments signal a backslide into Magufuli-era authoritarianism, undermining President Hassan’s reformist image. 

“This isn’t just about Lissu—it’s about whether Tanzania’s institutions can guarantee a credible election,” said regional analyst Zuhura Ahmed. “When opposition leaders are criminalized for demanding transparency, democracy itself is on trial.” 

The crackdown on Chadema supporters, including the violent dispersal of press conferences, instills fear among citizens and activists. When peaceful assemblies are met with tear gas and arrests, it signals that civic engagement carries risks. This chilling effect can depress voter turnout, silence grassroots campaigns, and create an atmosphere of apathy or resignation, further advantaging the ruling party.

The targeting of Tundu Lissu exemplifies how autocratic regimes use judicial and security apparatuses to undermine electoral integrity. For citizens and international observers, these developments are a red flag: the absence of a level playing field, combined with state coercion, foreshadows an election where the outcome may be predetermined not by ballots but by fear and repression.