The opposition party in Tanzania reports that its leader has been transferred to another prison

The largest opposition party in Tanzania announced on Saturday that its leader, Tundu Lissu, who has been detained and accused of treason, has been transferred to a separate prison. The party had earlier stated that it was unsure of his whereabouts.

The accusations against Lissu have raised further concerns about President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s record on human rights as she runs for reelection in late October. Hassan has stated time and again that her government is dedicated to respecting both good governance and human rights.

The leaders of Lissu’s CHADEMA party met with representatives of the Tanzania Prisons Service and were told that he had been transferred, according to a spokesperson for the party.

“CHADEMA would like to inform the public… Lissu has been transferred to Ukonga Prison,” released a statement from Brenda Rupia, the party spokesman.

Calls and texts seeking response from Elizabeth Mbezi, a spokesman for the Tanzania Prisons Service, were not answered.

The government spokesperson, Gerson Msigwa, stated that the authorities in charge of the matter are responsible for any remarks made about people who have been charged.

CHADEMA claimed on Friday that Lissu had been detained since April 10 at a jail in the capital, Dar es Salaam, and that party officials, his attorneys, and his relatives had made fruitless attempts to visit him.
The party had not been informed of the reason behind the relocation of their chairman to the new prison, Rupia subsequently told Reuters.

Last Monday, authorities accused Lissu, the runner-up in the nation’s 2020 presidential election, of treason after allegedly inciting the populace to rebel and sabotage the poll that was scheduled for later this year. He was not permitted to plead guilty to the charge of treason.

Because CHADEMA refused to sign a code of conduct demanding electoral reforms, the election commission said last Saturday that it will be disqualified from the election.

Upon becoming office in 2021, Hassan received praise for easing the media restrictions and political opponent repression that had been established by her predecessor, John Magufuli, who passed away while in office.

But because of a slew of arrests, as well as mysterious kidnappings and murders of political opponents, she has been under increasing fire from human rights advocates.