Tundu Lissu, Tanzania’s prominent opposition leader, appeared in court on Monday for the first time since his arrest on charges, including treason. Lissu, who came second in the last presidential election, told his supporters to remain undaunted as he faced the court proceedings.
Lissu had previously refused to participate in an April 24 hearing conducted virtually, choosing not to appear via video link from prison. On Monday, he entered the courtroom with his fist raised and supporters chanting “No Reforms, No Election.” In a video shared by his CHADEMA party on X, Lissu assured the crowd, “We will be fine. You should not fear.”
The charges against Lissu stem from a speech he made, allegedly calling on the public to rebel and disrupt the upcoming elections scheduled for October. Lissu was also the victim of a 2017 assassination attempt, during which he was shot 16 times.
The trial comes amid a series of high-profile arrests under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who plans to seek re-election. Despite accusations of stifling dissent, Hassan maintains that her administration is committed to human rights. Lissu’s CHADEMA party has called for electoral reforms, asserting that the current system disproportionately benefits the ruling party.
Meanwhile, several Kenyan activists, including former Justice Minister Martha Karua and former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, were barred from entering Tanzania to attend the trial. They were detained upon arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam and sent back to Nairobi.
Karua criticized the government’s actions, telling Kenyan broadcaster NTV, “The state cannot be used as a personal tool. You cannot deport people whom you don’t like, who are not aligned to your views.”
Activist Hussein Khalid and Mutunga were still in detention at the airport on Monday, with Khalid reporting that they were expected to be deported. Tanzanian immigration officials have yet to respond to requests for comment.