Freedom fighters never give up until they achieve their goal.

Tundu Lissu is a Tanzanian politician, lawyer, and activist who has become a prominent figure in the country's opposition. Here are the key facts about him—his biography is exceptionally eventful and dramatic.

He served as a Member of Parliament for the Singida East constituency (2010–2020). In January 2025, he was elected chairman of the CHADEMA party (Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo—"Party for Democracy and Progress"), one of Tanzania's leading opposition forces. Previously, he headed the Tanganyika Law Society, the bar association for the country's mainland. He is known as a campaigner against corruption and an advocate for democracy and human rights. He frequently criticized the actions of the ruling party and demanded transparency and accountability from those in power. On September 7, 2017, unidentified individuals opened fire on Lissu’s vehicle in a parking lot near his parliamentary residence in Dodoma (Tanzania's capital). He sustained multiple gunshot wounds (to his abdomen, arm, and leg). Many opposition figures and international observers viewed the attack as politically motivated, given his confrontational stance toward the government. After receiving initial treatment at a local hospital, Lissu was transferred to Nairobi, Kenya; he subsequently underwent a lengthy rehabilitation process in Belgium. He spent around three years in Belgium receiving medical treatment. In July 2020, Lissu returned to Tanzania to run in the presidential election as the CHADEMA candidate. However, the election was marred by allegations of irregularities, and he was defeated. He later left the country temporarily once more but returned to his homeland for good in 2023. His political career was marked by further events, including renewed arrests—such as in 2024 on charges of incitement and high treason following a rally in Mbinga—and his exclusion from the 2025 election. While in detention, Lissu went on a hunger strike, demanding the right to attend court hearings in person rather than participating via video link. He also faced difficulties accessing his lawyers. Why Lissu matters Lissu became a symbol of resistance in Tanzania, particularly in light of the country's increasingly authoritarian political trends. He advocated for constitutional and political reforms, believing the nation needed a new order to prevent the repetition of past mistakes. When viewing the situation specifically through the lens of Lissu’s role, the key manifestations of this authoritarian trend and his response to them can be summarized as follows: - Restrictions on freedom of assembly and demonstration. Authorities repeatedly banned opposition rallies and arrested organizers. Lissu openly condemned this as the suppression of democracy and called for the repeal of restrictive laws. - Pressure on the media and control of information. Tanzania enforces strict media laws that hinder the work of independent publications; social media platforms and messaging services have been blocked. Lissu publicly criticized such measures as tools of censorship. - Legal and administrative pressure on the opposition. This includes arrests, charges of incitement and high treason, the disqualification of candidates, and difficulties in accessing legal counsel and court hearings. - Control over the electoral process. The opposition complained of electoral manipulation, A decisive turning point is associated with the presidency of John Magufuli (2015–2021): under his leadership, media laws were tightened, arrests of opposition figures increased, and public debate effectively ground to a halt. Some of these practices have continued under the current leadership, even though the tone has softened somewhat. For Lissu, this meant an ongoing confrontation with the state—ranging from parliamentary criticism to public advocacy for human rights.