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Tensions are rising in Tanzania ahead of a key court appearance by prominent opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is expected to return to the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, April 24, 2025.
The case has drawn widespread attention, with citizens from across the country expressing support and planning to gather in Dar es Salaam.
Lissu, the national chairman of the main opposition party, was charged earlier this month with publishing false information and faces an additional non-bailable treason charge. His arrest followed a public speech in the Ruvuma region, and he has since remained in custody.
As the trial date approaches, online platforms have seen a growing number of opposition supporters coordinating travel to the city in solidarity. In response, Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Albert Chalamila issued a strong warning on Wednesday, cautioning anyone with plans to disrupt peace in the city.
“If anyone feels the need to stir trouble, they should do it in their own region or at home—not here in Dar es Salaam,” said Chalamila. “This is not the time for political games that endanger public safety. We have laws, and anyone breaking them will be dealt with accordingly.”
He went further to criticize what he described as a pattern among some politicians of stirring public sympathy by acting outside the law. “These actions threaten the peace of the country. I urge citizens not to fall into the trap of supporting these dangerous behaviors,” he added.
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Chalamila also referenced President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s 4R philosophy—Reconciliation, Resilience, Reforms, and Rebuilding—as the nation’s framework for addressing political grievances, urging those who oppose government policy to follow proper legal channels.
The upcoming court session has become a flashpoint in Tanzania’s political climate. While government officials insist on maintaining order, rights groups and opposition members have voiced concern about what they see as politically motivated charges designed to silence critics.
Organizations such as Amnesty International have called for Lissu’s release, arguing that his arrest undermines freedom of expression and democratic engagement.
With security expected to be tight around the Kisutu court complex on Thursday morning, Tanzanians and observers alike will be watching closely. The outcome of this trial could significantly shape the country’s political direction, particularly as the general elections approach later this year.
