Tundu Lissu, leader of Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA, was arrested in Mbinga, Ruvuma Region, in southern Tanzania on the evening of April 9, 2025.
Lissu had just concluded his second public rally of the day under the party’s “No Reforms, No Election” campaign. As he was wrapping up the event, he informed the crowd that he had been summoned by the police.
READ MORE: CHADEMA Launches ‘No Reforms, No Election’ Campaign, Reaffirms Demand for Major Electoral Reforms
Godbless Lema, a prominent CHADEMA figure and former Member of Parliament, explained the incident on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
“After the meeting today at 6:00 PM in Mbinga District, as it was ending, the OCD [Officer Commanding District] approached Chairman Tundu Lissu on the podium and told him, ‘Please, when you step down, get into the police vehicle—I want you at the station for questioning.’ Lissu asked, ‘What have I done?’ while continuing to collect public donations as part of our Tone Tone campaign,” wrote Lema.
He continued: “Seeing the tension, Sosopi [a party official] approached the OCD and advised, ‘If you have an issue with Lissu, please come to where we’re staying and handle it there. Arresting him here could cause chaos—the crowd is too large.’ I emphasized on that advice to the OCD and his team. He appeared to agree, but suddenly, they fired tear gas. Lissu was arrested and is now being held at the Mbinga Police Station.”
The party also reported that others arrested include Aden Mayala, CHADEMA’s Southern Zone Chairperson, Felius Festo, Shija Shebeshi, and Lissu’s bodyguard.
The police have not yet released an official statement regarding the arrests. The party leaders have highlighted that he was transferred to Dar es Salaam on the same night. Many have linked his arrest with his remarks on April 03, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, when he was speaking to individuals aspiring to compete in the 2025 election. Lissu emphasized that the party meant what it said regarding its no-reform, no election stance.
