Statement by the International Democracy Union on the Detention of CHADEMA Leader Tundu Lissu
April 23, 2025
The International Democracy Union (IDU) is gravely concerned by the continued detention and the escalating political persecution of Tanzanian opposition leader and IDU Bush-Thatcher Award for Freedom recipient, Tundu Lissu, following his arrest on April 9, 2025, in connection with a peaceful political rally held in Mbinga.
We unequivocally condemn the charge of high treason levelled against Mr. Lissu, a charge that lacks credible legal foundation and appears solely aimed at silencing dissent and undermining the democratic opposition. The authorities’ refusal to permit Mr. Lissu to respond to these allegations in a transparent legal setting runs counter to the most basic principles of due process.
The recent secretive transfer of Mr. Lissu to Ukonga Maximum Security Prison, without prior notice to his legal counsel or family, and the imposition of harsh solitary confinement measures, represents a new low in a pattern of intimidation. This is not only an abuse of human rights but a chilling signal to all who seek to speak out peacefully against governmental overreach.
We are equally troubled by the Tanzanian Electoral Commission’s politically motivated exclusion of CHADEMA from the upcoming elections through the enforcement of an unratified electoral code. This blatant manipulation of electoral procedures effectively bars genuine competition and undermines the legitimacy of the electoral process scheduled for November 2025.
The IDU applauds the courageous voices within the Tanzanian civil society, including that of Bishop Jacob Mameo, who are speaking out against repression and calling for democratic reforms. We urge all democratic nations and institutions to dispatch official observers to Mr. Lissu’s court hearing scheduled for April 24, 2025.
Let us be clear: demanding electoral reform and free elections is not treason—it is the very essence of democracy. Mr. Lissu’s courage, his global reputation as a jurist and parliamentarian, and his enduring commitment to peaceful democratic change must be recognized, not criminalized.
The IDU calls for the following immediate actions:
- The unconditional and immediate release of Tundu Lissu;
- The reinstatement of CHADEMA’s full political participation rights;
- A transparent, inclusive dialogue on electoral reform, involving all major stakeholders;
- Unrestricted access for legal counsel, family, and international observers;
- An end to all politically motivated detentions and the harassment of opposition figures.
We stand with Tundu Lissu, with CHADEMA, and with every Tanzanian who seeks a future defined by liberty, justice, and democracy.
#FreeTunduLissuNow
#DemocracyForTanzania