I will not give up the fight, says Lissu as he gets democracy award

Tanzania's main opposition leader Tundu Lissu stands in the dock at Kisutu Magistrate's Court in Dar es Salaam on May 19, 2025. (Photo by ERICKY BONIPHACE / AFP) Tanzania Opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, has been recognised as a champion of democracy amid increasing pressure on the President Samia Suluhu, whose government wants him jailed for treason. Lissu's award by the Democracy Union of Africa (DUA) forum was received on his behalf by Chadema International Secretary, Deogratius Munishi, who also read the detained leader's acceptance speech. Lissu vowed to fight on, saying he would not be deterred by Suluhu's administration high handedness. "Word has reached me that you have honoured me with Akufo-Addo Democracy Award 2025. Even though details are sketchy because communication with the outside world is impossible due to censorship and round the clock surveillance by prison guards and CCTV cameras, please allow me to thank you for this important award," read Munishi. "No prison walls will ever be strong enough to prevent the mighty strings of freedom from breaking through. Out of this pain and despair, a democratic Tanzania will be born." According to Lissu, Chadema members and supporters and the people of Tanzania have been under constant attack from "Samia Suluhu's dictatorship". He said in the past two years, party leaders and activists have been kidnapped, murdered or disappeared, many more have been illegally detained and tortured in police cells and secret chambers operated by intelligence and paramilitary security apparatus. "In the past six months, I have been held in this maximum security prison charged with treason for calling for reforms of our electoral system. Chadema has been slapped with a worldwide ban on political activities by Samia-appointed High Court judge. We have been hit with a ban in participation of this General Election and any future elections for the next five years by Samia-appointed and controlled electoral commission," he stated. Lissu wrote that a few days ago, the party's Vice Chairperson was arrested at the gate of High Court building in Dar es Salam while going to attend his treason trial and has not been charged with any offense but has apparently been driven 500km from Dar es Salam to Dodoma, Tanzania's new capital where he is being held incommunicado. "This attack on a peaceful democratic movement is without precedent in our entire history. Not even the darkest history years did we see this all out assault on democracy. Under Samia, we are faced with extinctual threat not only as a lawful political party but also as individuals. This is the context in which your decision to honor me with this award should be understood," he said. He described the award as a prism through which the generous and courageous act should be seen and measured. After decades of bitter struggle and terrible sacrifices in service to democratic ideals and human rights, he said they feel vindicated by the 'simple act of solidarity' and believe that if they earned recognition and support from democratic forces of the world, it is because they have remained steadfast in their principles and uncompromising struggle. "This is the simple truth the award speaks. The award is a reminder of the great work that remains unfinished, dictatorship remains firmly entrenched with the civil society co-opted to silence and the press intimidated," he said. Of all political parties in Tanzania, he said that CHADEMA remains standing while others have either jumped the bandwagon of dictatorship or never existed beyond the political parties register.

I will not give up the fight, says Lissu as he gets democracy award

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I will not give up the fight, says Lissu as he gets democracy award

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