Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on July 3, 2025.
Tanzania Denies Claims of Plan to Poison Opposition Leader Tundu Lissu in Prison
The Tanzanian government has denied claims that there is a plan to poison opposition leader Tundu Lissu while in prison. The reports, which circulated on social media, sparked reactions both within and outside the country.
In a statement released late on the night of July 2, 2025, CHADEMA said it had received information from a credible source regarding a plan to poison Lissu.
“CHADEMA takes these reports very seriously. This is not something to be taken lightly, especially considering that this is not the first time Chadema leaders have been targeted with threats, attacks, or various forms of oppression, while many reports we have submitted to the relevant authorities have been ignored or no action taken,” CHADEMA said in its statement on Wednesday.
The reports prompted various international responses, including from the International Democracy Union (IDU), which called on the Tanzanian government to ensure Lissu’s safety.
“IDU is alarmed by reports of poisoning attempts on opposition leader Tundu Lissu in custody. We urge Tanzanian authorities to protect his life, health, and rights. Any harm lies with the Government of Tanzania. The world is watching!” IDU wrote on X post.
The Chairperson of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, David McAllister, also expressed concern, emphasizing that responsibility lies with the Tanzanian government should anything happen to Lissu.
“I am deeply concerned by the alarming reports regarding possible attempts to poison Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu in detention. I urge the Tanzanian authorities to ensure his safety, health, and human rights are fully protected,” McAllister wrote in an X post.
Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the first government body to respond, replying to McAllister by stating that the information he had shared was false, unsubstantiated, and should be disregarded. The ministry emphasized that Tundu Lissu is safe and continues to attend his court proceedings.
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2025 Electoral Code of Conduct Challenged in Court
The High Court of Tanzania, Dodoma Zone, on Wednesday, July 3, 2025, heard a case challenging the Electoral Code of Conduct for the 2025 General Election filed by two citizens, Kumbusho Dawson Kagine and Bubelwa Kaiza.
The contested Electoral Code of Conduct for the 2025 General Election was signed on April 12, 2025, by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), the Government, and 18 political parties. One opposition party, CHADEMA, declined to sign.
Kumbusho and Bubelwa, represented by advocates Jebra Kambole, Mpale Mpoki, and Ibrahimu Mcharo, are opposing the legality and fairness of the Electoral Code of Conduct for the 2025 General Election. They argue that the code was signed before being officially published in the Government Gazette.
They also contest the penalties outlined in the code, stating they are biased. According to them, when electoral commission or government officials commit offenses, they are not punished as severely as political parties or their members.
Another key issue raised is the structure of the appeals committees and a clause that bars political parties from participating in election campaigns if their candidate is disqualified. The petitioners argue that this would deny voters the opportunity to campaign against an unopposed candidate in cases where only a “yes” or “no” vote is required.
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Theatre of the Good Cop, the Bad Cop, and the Bad Guy: A Political Allegory
In the daily drama of our politics, a familiar theatre plays out—one with a rotating script, but the same old cast: the good cop, the bad cop, and the bad guy. And as always, there’s an audience watching. We, the people, sit in the crowd—some cheering, some sighing, others just trying to make sense of it all.
The bad cop in this performance is not necessarily a villain. His intentions might even be noble—he wants the bad guy to speak out, to confess, to be held accountable. But his methods are harsh. He shouts, coerces, and intimidates. He’s prepared to break the bad guy, literally and figuratively, to get what he wants. But success is never guaranteed. Sometimes the bad guy screams, yet remains silent. Sometimes, he breaks. More often, he simply waits them out.
Across the table sits the good cop. Calm, measured, civil. He offers coffee, a chair, and time to reflect. He believes in dialogue, in trust-building, in long-haul patience. His peers often misunderstand him. Some call him weak, naïve, or complicit. But his mission is the same: truth, justice, change. His approach is different, not inferior.
And then, at the centre of it all, stands the bad guy. The real problem. The architect of decay. He has long enjoyed the spoils of unchecked power. From land to privilege, institutions to narratives—he has claimed it all. He rules with arrogance, never apologises, and even takes the little that others have. He is unbothered by the chaos he causes. He thrives on it. When the good cop and bad cop argue, he smiles—because discord is his greatest ally. He pits them against each other and watches as they exhaust themselves, while he continues to rule, untouched.
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