Tanzania’s Opposition Raises Alarm as Jailed Leader Denied Access
Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA, has expressed concern after failing to gain access to its leader, Tundu Lissu, who is in detention on treason charges. In a statement, the party stated that Lissu’s family and lawyers have been unable to see him at the Dar es Salaam jail where he has been held since his arrest. The party said that it holds the Tanzanian government and the Prisons Service accountable for Lissu’s safety. In response, the Prisons Service dismissed CHADEMA’s claims as misinformation, stating that Lissu remains detained at Keko Prison. Lissu, who came second in the 2020 presidential election, was arrested after giving a speech calling for election reforms, which prosecutors claim incited an uprising. His detention adds to concerns over increasing government repression ahead of upcoming elections.