The short version
- Tundu Lissu was convicted of incitement by a Dar es Salaam High Court panel, though judges cleared him of the more severe treason charge.
- The case stems from Lissu's campaign for electoral reforms prior to the October 2025 election, which President Samia Suluhu Hassan won with an overwhelming majority.
- Rights organizations and opposition groups have raised alarms about shrinking political space, citing a violent post-election crackdown that official inquiries say killed at least 500 people.
A Tanzanian High Court panel in Dar es Salaam has convicted Tundu Lissu, the leader of the main opposition Chadema party, of incitement. The three-judge bench acquitted him of treason, a capital offense under national law, but found his remarks during a pre-election campaign sufficient to warrant a conviction for stirring public unrest. Lissu, who has been detained since April of last year, maintained throughout the proceedings that the charges were politically motivated attempts to silence dissent ahead of the October 2025 general election.
The legal outcome marks a significant development in the ongoing tension between the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party and opposition forces. Prosecutors argued that Lissu’s statements, which were widely circulated online, were designed to disrupt the electoral process and threaten government stability. In his self-representation during the trial, Lissu contended that his comments were part of a legitimate push for constitutional changes and that prosecutors had misinterpreted his advocacy for reform as criminal behavior.
Central to the dispute was Lissu’s 'No Reforms, No Election' campaign, which called for several structural adjustments to Tanzania’s electoral framework. These demands included independent appointment of electoral commissioners rather than presidential selection, guaranteed freedom from intimidation for all campaigning parties, and the removal of government-appointed district chiefs from roles as returning officers. He also advocated for unhindered observation of vote counting by party agents and the ability to legally challenge presidential results in court.
The election itself has been a source of intense controversy. President Samia Suluhu Hassan secured re-election with 98 percent of the vote, a result that opposition figures dismissed as a mockery of democratic principles. Lissu and other major challengers were excluded from the ballot, leading to widespread protests in the aftermath. The government has firmly denied any targeting of political opponents, insisting that the election was conducted fairly and transparently despite the exclusion of key rivals.
Violence erupted following the poll, prompting a heavy security response. An official inquiry concluded that at least 500 people died during the unrest, though opposition groups claim the death toll is significantly higher and have demanded an independent investigation into the crackdown. President Hassan has attributed the violence to foreign actors attempting to overthrow her government, establishing a new commission to identify those responsible for the instability.
Lissu’s legal troubles are part of a longer history of political persecution. He previously survived an assassination attempt in 2017 when gunmen opened fire on his vehicle in Dodoma. The attack left him with multiple gunshot wounds and required extensive medical treatment abroad, forcing him into exile for several years. Perpetrators of the shooting have never been brought to justice, a failure that has long fueled suspicions about state protection of opposition figures.
His return to Tanzania in 2023 was initially viewed as a sign of political liberalization under President Hassan, who had lifted bans on opposition rallies after taking office following the death of former President John Magufuli. However, relations deteriorated rapidly as the 2025 election approached. Lissu assumed the role of national chairman for Chadema in January 2025 and intensified his calls for electoral integrity, setting the stage for his arrest six months before the vote.
During his detention at Ukonga Prison, Lissu engaged in two brief hunger strikes, alleging that prison guards prevented him from accessing lawyers and relatives and eavesdropped on private legal consultations. Prison authorities have denied these allegations. The case has drawn significant international attention, with human rights organizations expressing deep concern over the treatment of opposition politicians and the narrowing space for political dissent in East Africa.
Lissu has been granted leave to appeal the incitement conviction to the Court of Appeal, Tanzania’s highest judicial body. The outcome of this appeal will likely influence perceptions of the rule of law and democratic resilience in the country. As the government continues to defend its handling of the post-election period, the conviction underscores the fragile state of political competition and civil liberties in Tanzania.
The broader implications extend beyond Lissu’s individual case. The ruling highlights the challenges facing opposition movements in a political environment where electoral reforms are contested and dissent is increasingly criminalized. With the government rejecting accusations of widespread repression and blaming external forces for domestic unrest, the path toward resolving these deep-seated political divisions remains uncertain.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC World↗Tanzanian opposition leader found guilty of incitement
