IDU, ICT, And EP Lambaste Tanzania For Arresting And Charging Opposition Leader Tundu Lissu With Treason
- Africauptodate
- May 11
- 3 min read
Updated: May 12
The International Democratic Union (IDU), International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), and European Parliament (EP) have lambasted the government of Tanzania for arresting the country's main opposition leader Tundu Lissu during a political rally by his party CHADEMA in the town of Mbinga in Southern Tanzania, and charging him with treason. That was reported recently by various media.

The political rally in Mbinga is said to have been part of CHADEMA's staunch campaign under the motto "No Reforms, No Elections" that demands electoral reforms hitherto the country's General Elections 2025, and aimed at ensuring level playing field for all political parties hence free and fair elections.
According to the reports, IDU in a merciless attack on the government of Tanzania, observed that Tundu Lissu and CHADEMA's demand for electoral reforms in the East African Community nation hitherto the forthcoming general elections was not a treason offence, but instead is the very essence of democracy. As such, IDU reportedly called on the government there to release Tundu Lissu immediately and unconditionally.

IDU's damning observation is shared by ICJ that is said to have also castigated the government of Tanzania for the arrest of Tundu Lissu and the subsequent treason charges against him, and urged for his immediate and unconditional release. However, the global organization is said to have went even further with its attack by making a broader interpretation of incident in Mbinga, indicating that what happened there amounted to undermining of the rule of law, and violation of the rights of political parties for organizing and furthering their political agendas, among others, by the government of Tanzania. Within this context, ICJ urged the government of Tanzania to lift its ban on CHADEMA's participation in the General Elections 2025.

EP on its part, is said to have lambasted the government of Tanzania's arrest of Tundu Lissu and treason charges in a resolution accruing from the parliament's plenary session that was held on May 7, 2025. In the resolution, EP said that it believed the arrest of Tundu Lissu, and treason charges against him, may be politically motivated, and called for his immediate and unconditional release from incarceration.

The EP resolution continued as thus.
Lambasting the government of Tanzania for banning CHADEMA from the country's forthcoming General Elections 2025, and urging the government to ensure that the ban is lifted to allow fully participation in the elections by the main opposition party
Raising concerns about alleged increasing violations of human rights by the government of Tanzania, citing some specific violations that include abduction and murder of government critics, as well as some specific violations related to individual freedoms and freedom of press, among others
The international response to the arrest of Tundu Lissu who miraculously escaped death in 2017 after been shot 16 times by assassins, and the subsequent treason charges against him that may lead to the death penalty, has been long overdue but definitely not late. Such response is incredibly vital because in true multiparty systems anywhere in the world, opposition leaders and their parties ought to be respected by ruling parties and the police, knowing that both the ruling and opposition parties strive within their countries' Constitutions for the same thing - making their countries better places to live. The only difference between the two political camps is their visions about how that can be achieved. So what is happening in Tanzania at the moment, just before general elections for that matter, is very unfortunate indeed if not shameful. If nothing is done to rectify the political atmosphere there before October 2025, its very unlikely that the outcome of the elections will be recognized by the civilized and democratic world. That may have serious implications for the country.
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