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A Tanzanian court has confirmed that opposition leader Tundu Lissu will face a treason trial, while another presidential candidate, Luhaga Mpina, has been disqualified from the upcoming election for a second time.
The moves are part of an increasing crackdown on the opposition by the government of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, which has drawn criticism from international human rights groups.
Lissu, the leader of the main opposition party Chadema, was arrested in April on treason charges after advocating for electoral reforms. His party was subsequently banned from the October 29 vote. A court rejected his appeal to have the case dismissed on procedural grounds.
Simultaneously, Luhaga Mpina of the third-largest party, Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT Wazalendo), was barred from the election.
He was first disqualified last month, reinstated by the Supreme Court, and then disqualified again on Monday over what authorities called “procedural technicalities.”
ACT Wazalendo has accused President Hassan’s government of attempting to “suppress and ultimately destroy the multi-party democratic system” in Tanzania.
