Tundu Lissu, the leader of Tanzania’s main opposition party Chadema, was arrested by police on Wednesday after attending a political rally in Arusha, according to a statement by the party.
The arrest has sparked a wave of condemnation from human rights groups, opposition figures and civil society organizations accusing President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government of weaponizing state power to cripple dissent ahead of the October 2025 general elections.
Lissu a fierce government opposition and no stranger to political persecution having previously survived an assassination attempt and years of exile was reportedly picked up by security forces shortly after delivering speech that questioned the legitimacy of the National Electoral Commission and called for reforms.
“This is not just an arrest. This is a direct attack on political freedom and the democratic soul of our country,” Chadema’s Secretary General John Mnyika declared.
Lissu’s arrest is just the latest in a string of worrying signs pointing toward a shrinking civic space in Tanzania, a country once hailed as a regional model of stability. Human rights watchdogs, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have raised alarms over increasing harassment of opposition leaders, media censorship, and the curtailing of public assemblies.
According to Chadema, police have not provided official charges, instead citing vague violations related to “unauthorized public gatherings” a tool opposition say has become a legal smoke screen for silencing opposition voices.
For many Tanzanians, this moment feels eerily reminiscent of the 2020 elections, where Lissu, then the presidential challenger was beaten, tear-gassed and hounded into exile.
His return in 2023 was seen as a hopeful turn in Tanzania’s democratic story, a chance to build bridges. But now, with his arrest that hope risks unraveling before the nation’s eyes.
“This arrest is a brutal message; ‘Dissent will not be tolerated,’” said Anna Henga, Executive Director of the Legal and Human Rights Centre. “It sends chills down the spine of every citizen who believes in free expression.”
President Samia, who had initially signaled a more open political atmosphere after succeeding the late John Magufuli, is now facing increasing scrutiny both locally and internationally.
Her government’s crackdown on opposition rallies and independent media outlets appears to have accelerated in recent months prompting fears of a return to authoritarian governance.
The European Union and the United States have already issued statements urging the Tanzanian government to “respect political freedoms and uphold the rule of law.”
However, with the stakes this high, diplomatic statements may not be enough.
As Tanzania dashes toward its highly anticipated general elections, Lissu’s arrest could prove to be a defining flashpoint, a rallying cry for the opposition or a chilling warning, depending on how events unfold in the coming days.
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