TREASON charges were yesterday levelled at Chadema national chairman Tundu Lissu at the Kisutu resident magistrate’s court in Dar es Salaam, while his aides scrambled to get his routine medication owing to unrecovered bullets in his body.

Two charges of treason and publishing false information were read before senior resident magistrate Godfrey Mhini by state attorney Nassoro Katunga, alleging that on April 3, 2025 Lissu committed treason in Dar es Salaam.

The charge was linked with Section 39(2)(d) of the Penal Code [Cap 16, R.E 2022], which claims that Lissu, while being a citizen of the country, expressed intention to incite the public to obstruct the 2025 general elections.

He allegedly manifested this intent by uttering and publishing words aimed at intimidating the executive branch of the state, the charges asserted, following the party leader’s arrest the previous evening in Mbinga, Ruvuma Region, shortly after addressing a public meeting.

The rally was intended to mobilize citizens around the demand for electoral reforms to hold a free and fair election. It took approximately 22 hours from his arrest to his court appearance, those at the court noted.

Aides said that following his arrest, Lissu was unable to take his daily medication, which is essential for managing wounds inside the body with metabolic situations arising from unrecovered materials after an attempted assassination mid-2017.

Party officials said that his medication was left behind in Ruvuma, prompting aides to have to find ways of entering into his residence to retrieve backup supplies, which was eventually allowed to be delivered to him.

Amani Golugwa, deputy secretary general (Mainland) said that Lissu was flown from Mbinga to Dar es Salaam, where he was taken to central police station for interrogation.

He declined to give a statement, providing only his name, age and residence, insisting that he would speak in court.

The party official was worried about Lissu’s delayed access to essential medication and criticized the handling of his arrest, as he was formally charged with the two offenses at around 4:30 p.m. at the Kisutu court.

Isihaka Mchinjita, the ACT-Wazalendo vice chairman (Mainland) condemned his arrest, describing it as a direct attack on democracy and opposition politics. He demanded Lissu’s unconditional release, insisting that all political parties should be treated equally especially during an election year.

Isihaka Mchinjita Speaking in Parliament during debate on the Prime Minister’s Office budget estimates for the 2025/26 financial year,

At the National Assembly, Aida Khenani (Nkasi North-Chadema) urged the government to publicly explain the reasons for Lissu’s arrest, noting that this move erodes electoral transparency and justice.

Justice Francis Mutungi, the registrar of political parties, allayed concerns over the slogan “No Reform, No Election,” stating that it does not violate the law on political parties.

The 2025 general election will proceed as scheduled, he stated, affirming that political statements made at rallies often reflect party positions rather than legal threats to the electoral process.

Peter Kibatala, advocate for the party chairman, criticized the manner of his client’s arrest, asserting that it breached the Criminal Procedure Act and the Police General Orders (PGO).

Suspects are entitled to inform their relatives and legal counsel upon arrest, he said, noting that despite multiple attempts, he had not been informed of the specific charges or court details.

This violates due process while any attempt to suppress Lissu through questionable legal tactics would be challenged in court, he added.