In a dramatic twist that has stunned Tanzania and the wider East African region, opposition leader Tundu Lissu has been acquitted of all treason charges after years of legal battles.
The Supreme Court of Tanzania delivered the landmark ruling late Thursday, declaring Lissu a free man and ending one of the most politically charged trials in the country’s modern history.
The decision sparked immediate celebrations among his supporters, many of whom had gathered outside the courthouse waving party flags and chanting songs of freedom.
However, in a move that surprised even his closest allies, Lissu announced that he would voluntarily remain in prison until October 29, 2025 — a day after Tanzania’s General Election.
He said his decision was meant to make a powerful statement against what he described as “a system that fears the truth more than crime itself.”
Lissu’s symbolic gesture has drawn mixed reactions from across the political spectrum, with some calling it an act of unmatched patriotism, while others view it as a calculated political maneuver.
Political analysts say his choice could reshape the mood of the election and re-energize the opposition movement that had suffered from years of intimidation and internal divisions.
Tanzanian authorities have yet to issue an official response to his statement, though prison officials confirmed they will respect his wish to stay voluntarily until the specified date.
Lissu, who survived an assassination attempt in 2017, has remained a vocal critic of successive governments, often accusing them of suppressing dissent and weakening democratic institutions.
His release now comes at a politically sensitive time, as the nation braces for a tightly contested election expected to test the strength of Tanzania’s democracy.
As the countdown to October 29 begins, the country watches closely — waiting to see whether Lissu’s silence behind bars will speak louder than any campaign rally ever could.
By Nairobi