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MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2025/2690(RSP))

On the arrest and risk of execution of Tundu Lissu, Chair of Chadema, the main opposition party in Tanzania

B-10-2025-0264

on behalf of the PPE Group · Rapporteur: Sebastião Bugalho, Reinhold Lopatka, Michael Gahler, David McAllister, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Ana Miguel Pedro, Davor Ivo Stier, Tomas Tobé, Liudas Mažylis, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Mirosława Nykiel, Wouter Beke, Luděk Niedermayer, Vangelis Meimarakis, Milan Zver, Tomáš Zdechovský, Danuše Nerudová, Miriam Lexmann, Jan Farský, Loránt Vincze, Jessica Polfjärd, Andrey Kovatchev, Inese Vaidere

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament condemns the arrest of Tundu Lissu, Chair of CHADEMA, and calls for his immediate release, expressing concern over charges carrying the death penalty. It urges Tanzania to uphold human rights, ensure fair trials, allow international observers, and start inclusive electoral reform dialogue. It calls on the EU to monitor the situation, demands an independent investigation into police abuse, and ties Global Gateway investments to rule of law progress.

Key points

  1. Condemns the arrest and detention of Tundu Lissu and expresses grave concern over charges carrying the risk of capital punishment.
  2. Calls on the Government of Tanzania to immediately and unconditionally release Lissu, ensuring his safety and right to a fair trial and due process.
  3. Underlines the need for legal representatives' access and detention conditions meeting international standards; calls for visits from UN and EU observers and open court hearings for media.
  4. Urges Tanzanian authorities to uphold the rule of law, respect human rights, and allow opposition parties to operate freely; halt intimidation, arrest, or harassment of opposition, journalists, and human rights defenders.
  5. Calls for transparent and inclusive dialogue on electoral reform involving all political parties, civil society, citizens, academics, and other stakeholders.
  6. Calls on the European External Action Service and Member States to monitor the situation and consider measures to address human rights violations in Tanzania.
  7. Demands an independent authority to investigate police abuse and other misconduct, ensuring those responsible are brought to justice in fair trials without recourse to the death penalty.
  8. Underlines that Global Gateway investments should be explicitly tied to progress in rule of law, freedom of expression, and fair trial standards.

Who is affected

  • Tundu Lissu and CHADEMA: Parliament calls for his release and for the party to operate freely.
  • Tanzanian authorities: must ensure fair trial, halt repression, and engage in electoral reform dialogue.
  • EU and Member States: monitor situation and consider measures; tie Global Gateway investments to rule of law.