By Mpho Moloi
Tanzanian police arrested Tundu Lissu, one of the country’s most high-profile opposition figures, on Monday. Lissu, a former presidential candidate and the vice chairman of the opposition Chadema party, was detained as law enforcement sought to block a mass protest planned by the party in Dar es Salaam, the country’s commercial hub.
The protest was organized in defiance of an official ban, with Chadema party leaders asserting that the rally aimed to highlight ongoing allegations of kidnapping and extrajudicial killings of their members by security forces. Despite the government’s crackdown, Chadema’s leadership vowed to proceed with the protest, underscoring concerns about political repression under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration .
Background of the Protests
Tanzania has been witnessing growing political unrest, particularly in the lead-up to local elections in November 2024 and the general elections slated for 2025. The opposition, led by Chadema, accuses the ruling government of suppressing political dissent and stifling freedom of assembly. The rally that was thwarted on Monday was set to be a large-scale demonstration against the alleged systematic targeting of opposition members, which the party claims has led to several kidnappings and murders. These claims have been strongly denied by Tanzanian authorities.
According to Chadema’s party chairman, Freeman Mbowe, the protest was intended to be peaceful, with strict instructions for members not to carry weapons. In a statement made prior to the arrests, Mbowe emphasized the peaceful nature of the protest and called for Tanzanians to pray for the safety of the protesters, adding that their movement was intended to secure the future of Tanzania .
The Arrest and Its Implications
Lissu’s arrest marks yet another chapter in the opposition leader’s tumultuous relationship with the Tanzanian government. He has been a long-standing critic of the ruling party and was previously shot in a politically motivated assassination attempt in 2017. After spending years in exile, Lissu returned to Tanzania in 2023 after President Hassan lifted a ban on political rallies—a decision hailed by many as a step toward democratic reform. However, his latest arrest highlights the ongoing tensions between the government and the opposition.
In addition to Lissu, several other Chadema leaders were arrested as part of a broader crackdown on opposition activities. Riot police had been deployed across key areas of Dar es Salaam over the weekend in anticipation of the rally, with water cannons and armed officers ready to disperse crowds .
Chadema’s Response and Calls for International Attention
Following Lissu’s arrest, Chadema has called for increased international scrutiny of Tanzania’s political situation. The party is urging human rights organizations and international observers to intervene, citing concerns that the current administration is using state security forces to silence its political opponents ahead of the elections. The arrests of Lissu and other party members, they argue, are part of a broader strategy to weaken the opposition and intimidate voters .
This incident has also drawn reactions on social media, with various political commentators and rights activists condemning the government’s actions. Many have expressed fears that the crackdown on opposition rallies may signal a return to the autocratic governance style seen in the previous administration of John Magufuli, known for his hardline stance against political dissent.
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