Tanzania's Voice for Democracy Silenced
Tundu Lissu is one of Tanzania's most courageous voices for democracy and the rule of law. His fearless advocacy, even after surviving an assassination attempt, continues to inspire millions. As his voice remains unjustly silenced, we call for his immediate release and the protection of fundamental human rights.
A patriot to be respected, a democrat to be celebrated — and a leader to be heard
Tundu Antiphas Mughwai Lissu is a Tanzanian lawyer, human rights defender, and politician who serves as the Chairman of Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA (Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo). He is not a traitor to be condemned, but a patriot to be respected and a democrat to be celebrated; not a criminal to be imprisoned, but a leader to be heard.
Born: January 20, 1968, Mahambe village, Ikungi District, Singida Region, Tanzania
Education: LLB (Hons) University of Dar es Salaam (1994); LLM with distinction, University of Warwick, UK (1996)
Profession: Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania (enrolled 2003); former President of the Tanganyika Law Society (elected 2017)
Political career: Joined CHADEMA in 2004 (Director of Legal & Constitutional Affairs and Human Rights); MP for Singida Mashariki (2010–2019), Chief Whip of the Official Opposition, Shadow Minister for Legal & Constitutional Affairs and other key portfolios
Tundu Lissu has faced relentless persecution by successive CCM administrations — through repeated arrests and malicious prosecutions meant to silence his advocacy for justice, democracy, and human rights. Despite this, he remains completely free of any criminal record and continues to stand uncompromised in the principles he holds dear.
His persecution has spanned four presidencies:
On September 7, 2017, after weeks of harassment and arrests, unidentified gunmen attacked Lissu outside his official residence in Dodoma and shot him 16 times at close range. He survived after emergency treatment in Dodoma, prolonged care in Kenya and Belgium, and 25 surgeries. The attack was never credibly investigated, and his statutory medical benefits were unlawfully withheld.
Following President Magufuli’s death and assurances of safety and political opening under President Samia, Lissu returned to Tanzania in January 2023, welcomed by thousands. After CHADEMA’s candidates were mass-disqualified in the 2024 local elections, the party launched the “No Reforms, No Election” campaign demanding electoral reform.
On April 9, 2025, he was detained after addressing a reform rally in Mbinga. He now faces treason charges — the most serious offence under Tanzanian law, punishable by death — alongside alleged cyber offences. Today, he remains imprisoned on charges widely viewed as politically motivated.
Disqualified from the presidential ballot, triggering mass protests across Tanzania.
Elected International Democracy Union (IDU) Vice Chairman representing Africa and appointed to the IDU International Executive Committee.
Detained after calling for electoral reforms at a rally in Mbinga. Charged with treason and alleged cyber offences, facing the death penalty.
Elected the 4th Chairman of CHADEMA, succeeding Freeman Aikaeli Mbowe after 21 years of leadership.
After mass disqualification of CHADEMA candidates in local elections, the party unanimously pivoted to a nationwide struggle for electoral reform.
National dialogue collapsed after CCM rejected CHADEMA’s proposals for constitutional and electoral reforms.
Returned home after five years in Belgium, following assurances of safety and political opening. Welcomed by thousands of supporters.
After years of recovery and dozens of surgeries, returned to Tanzania as CHADEMA’s presidential candidate. Post-election threats forced him back into exile.
Elected Vice Chairman in absentia while still recovering in Belgium. Earlier that year, he was stripped of his parliamentary seat while hospitalized abroad.
Shot 16 times outside his official residence in Dodoma. Survived after emergency treatment and 25 surgeries in Kenya and Belgium.
Elected President of the Tanganyika Law Society; his tenure was cut short by the assassination attempt later that year.
Won the newly created Singida Mashariki constituency seat, later re-elected in 2015. Became a leading opposition legislator and constitutional reform voice.
Joined CHADEMA as Director of Legal & Constitutional Affairs and Human Rights, later serving as party Attorney General and Central Committee member.
Worked with LEAT defending land, environmental, and artisanal miners’ rights; later continued advocacy internationally while based in Washington, D.C.
A politically motivated prosecution to silence the opposition
Tundu Lissu faces fabricated treason charges that carry the death penalty. His detention is a clear attempt to silence Tanzania's democratic opposition.
These charges stem from Lissu's social media posts calling for electoral reforms and boycotting rigged elections.
"This is not security; it is deliberate humiliation of my human dignity." - Tundu Lissu
Tundu Lissu was arrested after launching a "No Reforms, No Elections" campaign calling for transparent electoral processes. In any democracy, advocating for free and fair elections is a fundamental right—not treason. The timing of his arrest, just months before the October 2025 elections, and his subsequent disqualification from the ballot, reveal these charges as a deliberate attempt to eliminate political opposition and silence one of Tanzania's most prominent democratic voices.
Global condemnation of Tundu Lissu's detention
International recognition for his courage and commitment to democracy
Awarded by the International Democracy Union for his exceptional courage and unwavering commitment to democratic values in the face of persecution and physical danger.
Recognized globally as a prominent human rights defender and advocate for the rule of law in Tanzania and East Africa.
Honored by multiple international organizations for his tireless work promoting transparent governance and free elections in Tanzania.
Stay informed about Tundu Lissu's case and Tanzania's democracy crisis
State prosecutors pressed CHADEMA Secretary-General John Mnyika to link Tundu Lissu's April 2025 speech to violence during the 2025 General Election, questioning him over burned polling stations and torched Bus Rapid Transit infrastructure; Mnyika maintained he had no knowledge linking the party's reform campaign to any unlawful acts.
Read More →
Under sustained cross-examination, CHADEMA Secretary-General John Mnyika rejected prosecution attempts to connect the party's No Reforms, No Election campaign to post-election violence, telling the High Court the policy — adopted months before Lissu's April 2025 speech — sought reform through democratic means, not unlawful acts.
Read More →
CHADEMA Secretary-General John Mnyika testified that Tundu Lissu's April 2025 speech explained a No Reforms, No Election policy formally adopted by party organs months earlier, not a personal call to threaten the government, and said journalists broadcast the event independently, without CHADEMA's direction.
Read More →
After the High Court's surprise ruling that he had a case to answer, Tundu Lissu opened his defence by recounting his lifelong record fighting oppression, from his student activism to his environmental and land-rights campaigns, arguing the treason charge is rooted in decades of political persecution rather than any crime.
Read More →
The High Court rejected a state argument that a self-represented accused could not re-examine his own testimony, clearing Tundu Lissu to clarify his evidence before CHADEMA Secretary-General John Mnyika took the stand as the defence's second witness, testifying that journalists independently covered and broadcast the April 2025 meeting.
Read More →
Tundu Lissu formally closed his defence, clearing the way for prosecutors to cross-examine him over remarks he allegedly made at CHADEMA's April 2025 meeting. Lissu did not deny the words but argued they were taken out of context, insisting they must be understood within his broader campaign for constitutional and electoral reform.
Read More →
Prosecutors opened their cross-examination of Tundu Lissu, pressing him on whether he controlled the Jambo TV broadcast of his April 2025 speech and on the legal limits of protest. Lissu accepted he wanted the speech to reach the public but insisted the broadcaster, not him, decided to publish the footage online.
Read More →
Closing his defence evidence, Tundu Lissu argued the prosecution's case rested on eight police officers with a personal vendetta against him and nine concealed witnesses he described as self-confessed criminals who traded testimony for dropped charges, and noted prosecutors never produced the video recording central to the charge.
Read More →
In his first full day of testimony, Tundu Lissu traced his activism back to 1988, recounting his environmental and land-rights campaigns, repeated prosecutions since 2002, and the 2017 shooting that nearly killed him, telling the court his treason case is political persecution rather than any genuine threat to the state.
Read More →
The High Court ruled that Tundu Lissu has a case to answer and must mount a defence, after which he asked the court to summon eleven witnesses including President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the Inspector-General of Police and senior CHADEMA leaders, arguing they could speak to whether any genuine threat to the state existed.
Read More →
Reading the court's ruling, Justice Dunstan Ndunguru explained that, at this stage, the panel does not weigh the credibility of evidence but only whether it links the accused to the charge, finding the prosecution had established, though not proven, enough for Lissu to be required to answer the treason allegation.
Read More →
The prosecution closed its case after calling 17 of its 30 listed witnesses, declaring the evidence sufficient. Lissu, representing himself, argued the evidence failed to meet the legal threshold for a prima facie case and asked the three-judge panel to acquit him without requiring a defence. The court adjourned to rule on August 21.
Read More →
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group kept Tanzania on its formal agenda, noting the situation has worsened since its Special Envoy's visit, and endorsed a 30-day timeline for Tanzania to resolve Tundu Lissu's detention through a political and legal pathway — warning it will consider further action in November 2026 if progress isn't made.
Read More →
Following an application by Amsterdam & Partners LLP, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued Opinion No. 74/2025, finding Tundu Lissu's detention arbitrary and calling on Tanzania to release him immediately with compensation. Tanzania has not complied.
Read More →
The European Parliament unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the post-election killings and deteriorating human rights situation in Tanzania, explicitly naming Lissu's continued imprisonment as a central concern.
Read More →Watch interviews, speeches, and coverage of Tundu Lissu's case
European Parliament condemns Tanzania's post-election killings and human rights abuses, including Tundu Lissu's detention.
Posted: November 2025
Tundu Lissu receiving the IDU Award for Freedom in2020.
Posted: November 2025
The Elliott School of International Affairs' Institute for African Studies welcomed Tanzanian opposition leader and chief whip Tundu Lissu for a conversation with students, faculty, and the community.
Posted: November 2025
International news coverage of Tundu Lissu's treason trial and the fight for democracy in Tanzania
Your voice matters. Help us free Tundu Lissu and restore democracy in Tanzania.
Join thousands demanding Tundu Lissu's immediate and unconditional release.
Sign NowWrite to your government representatives and urge them to pressure Tanzania diplomatically.
When a voice like Tundu Lissu's is suppressed, it is an attack on the freedom of us all. We cannot remain silent.
Sign the Petition TodayJoin the movement for Tundu Lissu's freedom and Tanzania's democracy
Stay updated on social media