Tundu Lissu elected as vice chair of Global Democratic Union's Africa chapter while in custody
What you need to know:
- Lissu's election took place while he is currently in custody, facing two ongoing legal cases — one concerning charges of treason and another related to the publication of false information online.
Dar es Salaam. The International Democrat Union (IDU) has elected Tundu Lissu as one of the Vice Chairpersons for the organisation’s Africa region.
Lissu, who serves as the Chairperson of the opposition party Chadema, was elected alongside Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, who retains his position as Chair of the IDU.
Lissu's election took place while he is currently in custody, facing two ongoing legal cases — one concerning charges of treason and another related to the publication of false information online.
The proceedings are underway at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam.
Chadema released a statement today, Saturday, 24 May 2025, confirming Lissu’s election, referring to an official communication from the IDU regarding a series of meetings during which the vote was held.
According to the statement signed by Chadema’s Director of Communications and Publicity, Brenda Rupia, the election of both Lissu and Harper took place in Brussels, Belgium, where the IDU sessions were convened.
“At that meeting, where the party was represented by Deogratias Munishi, the Vice Chairperson of the Democrat Union of Africa (DUA) for the East Africa Region, members re-elected Harper to continue as Chair for another three-year term,” the statement noted.
In the same session, the General Assembly unanimously elected Lissu to be part of the panel of Vice Chairpersons of the global alliance.
