Tanzania's Main Opposition Leader Charged With Treason For Urging Reform Of Flawed Electoral System
- Africauptodate
- Apr 11
- 2 min read
Tanzania's main opposition leader Tundu Lissu has been arrested and charged with treason, reported some African media.
According to the reports, Mr Tundu Lissu who is the leader of the country's main opposition party, namely Chadema, was arrested on April 9, 2025, during a political rally of his party in Mbinga town that is located in the southern region of Ruvuma. The police are said to have accused him of, among others, inciting the public to abstain from the country's general elections that are scheduled for October 2025. He was then taken by the police to Dar es Salaam where a magistrate court there charged him with treason on April 10, 2025.
Reportedly, the treason charges against Mr Tundu Lissu are related to his persistent call for reform of the country's electoral system hitherto the general elections. Seemingly, he believes that the electoral system is flawed because it favors the ruling party, namely CCM. Particularly, he is said to have cited appointment of the key members of the country's electoral body, that he said is done by the head of state who belongs to CCM.
As such, since been elected leader of Chadema in February 2025, Mr Tundu Lissu is said to have been emphasizing in rallies and elsewhere that reform of the electoral system ahead of the forthcoming general elections is vital in order to ensure level playing field for all political parties, hence free and fair election. His motto for the electoral system reform crusade is said to be as thus.
"No Reforms, No Election"
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