Tanzania opposition leader Tundu Lissu to begin hunger strike

Tundu Lissu, leader of Tanzania’s main opposition party Chadema, plans to begin a hunger strike this Monday. The protest is a response to allegations that prison authorities have refused to allow him private, court-ordered consultations with his legal team.

Lissu has been detained for over 18 months and faces treason charges that carry a potential death sentence. His lawyer, Rugemeleza Nshala, stated that Lissu is prepared to stop taking necessary medication to fight for the rule of law. A final judgment in the treason case is scheduled for November 6.

Lissu was arrested in April 2025 following a rally calling for electoral reforms. His detention follows a period of political unrest in Tanzania, including the barring of opposition candidates from the October 2025 elections.