Police detain Chadema chairman Tundu Lissu in Ruvuma after rally

Dar es Salaam. Opposition Party Chadema’s national chairman Tundu Lissu, is reportedly being held by police in Ruvuma, shortly after addressing a public rally in Mbinga District, Ruvuma Region.

The exact reason for Lissu’s detention, along with his two bodyguards and a party member, Shija Shebeshi, remains unclear. The incident is said to have caused a confrontation between the police and the public.

Ruvuma Regional Police Commander Marco Chilya told Mwananchi on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, that he is monitoring the situation to verify the details.

“I am following up on this information; I haven’t received it officially yet. Once we have all the details, we will issue a statement tomorrow,” Commander Chilya said when contacted by Mwananchi.

Earlier, Brenda Rupia, Chadema’s Director of Communication and Publicity, told Mwananchi that Lissu had been detained shortly after finishing his speech at the rally held at Mbinga Sokoni grounds.

“We don’t know the reason for the detention. The meeting was peaceful and concluded without incident, but the police insisted on taking Lissu,” Rupia said.

“However, the public refused to let Lissu be taken, saying the chairman wasn’t going anywhere. That’s when the police fired tear gas in succession to disperse the crowd and forcibly took the chairman,” she claimed.

Lissu, along with other Chadema leaders, including the party’s Vice Chairman for the mainland, John Heche, is currently in the southern region promoting the “No Reforms, No Election” agenda. The campaign calls for changes to the electoral system to ensure fairness for all political parties.

The tour, which began on April 4, 2025, is set to cover the southern regions of Lindi, Mtwara, and Ruvuma. It is expected to conclude tomorrow, Thursday, with a public rally in Songea Town.