REPORTS that Chadema national chairman Tundu Lissu was no longer being held at Keko Prison have triggered public concern, with widespread calls on social media for transparency regarding his whereabouts.

ACP Elizabeth Mbezi, the Tanzania Prisons Service spokesperson, said when contacted that she had no knowledge of the matter, explaining that she is currently in Dodoma and had not received any updates concerning Lissu.

Brenda Rupia, the party’s director of communications and publicity, issued a statement yesterday expressing alarm after lawyers, family members and party officials were unable to meet Lissu during a scheduled visit to the prison.

“Today, 18 April 2025, Chadema Deputy Secretary General for Zanzibar, Advocate Ali Ibrahim Juma, accompanied by legal counsel, family and supporters, visited Keko Prison—where Mr Lissu was reportedly being held—but were informed he was no longer there,” the statement affirmed.

“Disturbingly, no formal explanation was provided regarding his transfer or current location. CHADEMA urges the Prisons Service, relevant authorities, and state institutions to immediately and transparently inform the public about Mr Lissu’s whereabouts,” it declared.

“If he remains in custody at Keko, it is a fundamental constitutional and human right for his family, legal team, and supporters to see him, the statement pursued, but police officers on the scene confirmed to reporters in private that he was taken away from the prison in a motorcade of government vehicles.

John Heche, the party vice chairman (Mainland), confirmed that lawyers were denied access to Lissu and were given no justification for the refusal.

“No one seems to have any information. That’s why we’re demanding answers—where has he been taken to, and why? Food was brought to him, yet he couldn’t be found. As our leader, we have a right to know his condition. If he has been transferred, we are entitled to know the reasons and his current location,” he stated.

When contacted, ACP Mbezi responded: “This is the first time I’m hearing of it—from you. I don’t have that information. I’m in Dodoma, so I’m not aware of what may be happening in Dar es Salaam.”

Lissu was first brought before the Kisutu Magistrate’s Court on Thursday 10th April charged with treason after being arrested in Ruvuma Region, at a rally to pursue the “No Reforms, No Election” campaign.

He faced four charges in different courts, one being treason and the other being publishing false information about alleged irregularities in the 2024 Local Government Elections.

The charges said he was accusing police of electoral fraud and claiming judicial bias due to judges being presidential appointees.

The Chadema leader was represented by a six-man legal team led by Dr Rugemeleza Nshala, Dickson Matata, Jebra Kambole, Michael Lugina, Hekima Mwasipu and Gaston Garubindi.

However, the court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the treason case and adjourned the matter to 24th April for mention before the case is mandated to the High Court while Lissu was remanded at Keko Prison pending further proceedings.

Advocate Peter Kibatala, a top litigation officer for the chairman and the party, said in a social media update that he contacted the Keko Prison commander ACP Wilson Mshida, who asked him to contact the Prisons Service official spokesperson.

“I mean, how rumour-provocative can an Officer be; isn't the intelligent thing to simply avail full information to a remandee's lawyer about the remandee's whereabouts, and extinguish all rumours and speculations?

“Some damage is truly self-inflicted; which goes a long way to crystallize my conviction that we deal, on a daily basis, with some truly un-professional bunch.”