Tanzanian police have arrested Tundu Lissu, chairman of the main opposition party, Chadema, following his address at a rally advocating for democratic reforms ahead of the country’s upcoming general elections in October.
Lissu has been touring various regions in recent weeks, leading a nationwide campaign under the slogan: “No Reforms, No Election,” calling for transparency and fairness in the electoral process.
According to Chadema party officials, Lissu was taken into custody on Thursday in Mbinga district shortly after concluding his speech at a public gathering. Brenda Rupia, the party’s spokeswoman, confirmed his arrest and stated, “Tundu Lissu has been arrested by the police in Mbinga district when he had just finished addressing a public meeting. It is not known which police station he has been taken to.”
Chadema further reported that Lissu was arrested alongside other party members and that police deployed teargas to disperse the crowd at the rally venue.
Lissu is a prominent political figure in Tanzania who previously survived an assassination attempt in 2017, during which he was shot 16 times. His arrest is likely to heighten political tensions in the lead-up to the elections, with opposition groups expressing concern over the suppression of political freedoms.