TANZANIA’S main opposition party Chadema says its detained leader, Tundu Lissu, has been quietly transferred to a different prison facility, fuelling alarm over transparency and the government’s handling of political dissent ahead of this year’s general elections.
The announcement came a day after the party reported it had been unable to locate Lissu, who was charged with treason last week in a case rights groups say underscores shrinking democratic space under President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
‘Chadema would like to inform the public … Lissu has been transferred to Ukonga Prison,’ said party spokesperson Brenda Rupia in a statement on Saturday. Speaking to Reuters, she confirmed the party was not given any reason for the abrupt transfer.
A high-stakes case
Lissu, who placed second in the 2020 presidential vote, was arrested on April 10 and later charged with treason for allegedly calling on the public to rebel and disrupt this October’s election. He has not been permitted to enter a plea on the charge.
The case has become a flashpoint in Tanzania’s political landscape. On Friday, Chadema said Lissu’s legal team and family members were denied access to him at the facility where he was initially held in Dar es Salaam. The lack of communication raised concerns over his treatment and the government’s motives.
President Hassan, who succeeded John Magufuli in 2021, was once lauded for rolling back repressive policies, but critics now accuse her administration of reviving authoritarian tactics.
No official explanation
Efforts to obtain clarification from government officials have gone unanswered. Tanzania Prisons Service spokesperson Elizabeth Mbezi did not respond to calls and messages. Meanwhile, government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa stated that once legal charges are filed, all case-related matters fall under the purview of the responsible authorities.
The Chadema party, which is already under pressure after refusing to sign a government-mandated electoral code of conduct, faces possible disqualification from the election, according to recent statements from the national election commission.
Reform hopes fading
Hassan initially received international praise for easing political restrictions and encouraging dialogue with the opposition. However, her government is now facing mounting scrutiny from human rights advocates following a spate of arrests, disappearances, and unexplained deaths of political figures.
Lissu’s arrest has deepened fears that the October election may be neither free nor fair. His repeated targeting by authorities — including surviving an assassination attempt in 2017 — has made him a symbol of resistance and reform in Tanzanian politics.
His party says it will continue to demand transparency and legal fairness as the country approaches a pivotal electoral test.
