DAR ES SALAAM — Tundu Lissu, the outspoken leader of Tanzania’s main opposition party, stood defiant in court on Monday morning, raising a clenched fist and telling his supporters not to be afraid even as he faces treason charges that could cost him his life.
“You will be fine,” Lissu called out to the crowd gathered outside the courthouse in Dar es Salaam. “You should not fear.”
The city’s usually busy streets took on a tenser tone as security forces patrolled heavily around the trial magistrates’ court and nearby areas. But despite the visible show of force, dozens of Lissu’s supporters braved the presence of armed officers to cheer him on from behind barricades.
A Heated Return to Court
It was Lissu’s first court appearance since his arrest on 9 April. The government has accused him of inciting rebellion and publishing false information online charges tied to his vocal demands for electoral reform before Tanzania’s general elections set for October.
“If there are no reforms, there can be no elections,” he had declared in a series of public addresses and social media posts that drew swift backlash from authorities.
Now charged with treason and spreading falsehoods, Lissu could face the death penalty if convicted a grim possibility that has drawn concern from international observers and human rights groups.
Legal Stand-off Over Virtual Hearings
Court officials had initially planned to hold Lissu’s hearings virtually, citing security concerns. But his legal team pushed back, calling the move opaque and unconstitutional.
“Justice must not only be done, but it must be seen to be done,” one of his lawyers said, arguing that Lissu deserved a fair and public trial. The court eventually agreed, allowing Monday’s proceedings to take place in person.
Chadema, the party Lissu leads, has long accused the government of President Samia Suluhu Hassan of suppressing dissent and using state institutions to silence critics. The government denies those claims.
A Familiar Target
This is not Lissu’s first run-in with the authorities. In 2017, he survived an assassination attempt after being shot multiple times outside his home. He spent years in exile in Belgium, returning to Tanzania only recently in what many saw as a hopeful sign of political thaw.
Now, with an election looming and tensions rising, Lissu’s case has once again become a flashpoint.
Human rights advocates warn the charges could further undermine democratic space in Tanzania. “These kinds of prosecutions have a chilling effect,” said one East African legal expert, who asked not to be named for safety reasons. “They’re about silencing opposition not justice.”
The Road Ahead
Lissu remains behind bars for now, as the court sets dates for further hearings. But his message outside the courtroom was clear: the fight isn’t over.
As the crowd dispersed under the watchful eyes of police, one supporter, draped in Chadema party colours, said softly, “He gives us hope. We will not stop now.”
For many in Tanzania, that hope may soon be tested.
