By Adonis Byemelwa
Dodoma — Tanzania's government has responded defiantly to international outcry over the arrest and potential execution of opposition figure Tundu Lissu, with Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo stressing, “We have not broken any law. We have continued to abide by the law.”
Speaking just hours before the European Union Parliament was set to vote on a resolution calling for Lissu’s immediate release, on May 7, 2025 Kombo emphasized Tanzania’s sovereignty and urged foreign diplomats to “strictly observe the Vienna Convention” — a pointed reminder, he said, that appearing in courtrooms without official authorization would not be tolerated.
But on the ground, especially in Tanzania’s politically active Lake Zone — Lissu’s stronghold — Kombo’s words have struck like a slap in the face.
“He speaks of the law, but which law justifies silencing the opposition?” asked Martha Kessy, a civil society leader in Mwanza. “We are seeing fear of democratic choice, not law enforcement.” Local activists and political commentators have accused the government of weaponizing legal institutions to cripple Chadema ahead of the October 2025 elections.
As the Tanzanian government digs in, pressure is mounting in Brussels. On May 7, the European Parliament held an urgent debate on Lissu’s arrest, culminating in a joint motion for a resolution that now awaits a final vote today.
Reinhold Lopatka of Austria, who co-authored the resolution, didn’t mince words. “The EU contributes hundreds of millions of Euros to Tanzania through various initiatives,” he noted. “Any European cooperation investment must be tied to real progress on the rule of law and human rights.”
That sentiment was echoed by Jan-Christoph Oetjen of Germany, who reflected on what many in Brussels see as broken promises. “We had high hopes when Samia Suluhu Hassan became president. We expected reform. But what we see now is deeply troubling.”
He continued with a plea that resonated across party lines: “Free Tundu Lissu. Reinstate Chadema. Organize free and fair elections. Democracy cannot be a performance — it must be real.”
Dutch MEP Catarina Vieira made an emotional appeal for more action from European diplomats in Tanzania. “We can and should do more. Today, this Parliament stands with Mr. Lissu and with all those unjustly deprived of freedom in Tanzania,” she said. “To them we say: you are not alone.”
Beyond rhetoric, the resolution carries specific demands: the unconditional release of Lissu, guarantees for his legal rights, and the full reinstatement of Chadema’s participation in the electoral process. It also urges the Tanzanian government to open dialogue with all political parties and civil society groups on meaningful electoral reform.
Closing the debate, EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, and the Rule of Law, Michael McGrath, walked a careful line — balancing the EU’s strong condemnation of recent events with a commitment to ongoing dialogue.
“We deplore the arrest and charges against Tundu Lissu,” McGrath said. “While we cannot interfere with Tanzania’s judicial process, we urge authorities to ensure a fair trial, respect his rights, and guarantee a credible and transparent election.”
Despite McGrath’s diplomacy, the tone across the chamber grew impatient. With Tanzania one of the EU’s key partners in East Africa — and the EU being the largest destination for Tanzanian exports — the economic stakes are high. Several MEPs floated the idea of conditioning future aid and investment on democratic benchmarks.
Back home, however, the government’s messaging remains rigid, and critics fear the standoff may deepen. In Bukoba, opposition youth leader Wilson Kaimukirwa summed up the anxiety sweeping Chadema ranks: “If the world turns away now, they will do to Lissu what they did in 2017 — or worse.” As the EU vote looms, what’s at stake isn’t just one man’s fate, but the credibility of Tanzania’s democratic process — and, potentially, its relationship with a powerful international partner.
