MP Gakuya: President Samia Suluhu should adopt real democracy
The Embakasi North Member of Parliament (MP) James Gakuya has called upon the Tanzanian president to adopt democracy in her leadership.
Speaking at a local media station on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Gakuya stated that Suluhu is adopting dictatorial tendencies by blocking Chadema Party leader Tundu Lissu from the October 2025 elections.
“These are impunity products. This is why we are saying, as a country, East Africa, and the continent at large, that we must come out of these dictatorial regimes and adopt real democracy,” he stated.
“Once you are elected, make sure that you allow competition. You should not use other means to block those who seem to be serious contenders,” Gakuya added.
Tundu Lissu’s case
Lissu was arrested in April 2025 and faces treason charges because of a speech in which he called for an uprising to block the country’s general elections in October, 2025.
The Tanzanian government argued that Lissu’s statement made on April 3, 2025, directly contravened the country’s constitutional order.
“We will block the election; we will mobilise a rebellion… We are going to really disrupt this election,” he stated.
In Tanzania, the charge of treason carries a possible death sentence, and individuals are not eligible for bail.
Lissu’s legal team says the charges against him were politically driven. However, state prosecutors argue that such language amounted to incitement to rebellion and was not protected political speech.
The government later barred Chadema, the main opposition party, from participating in the elections. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, the party failed to sign a mandatory code of conduct agreement by the set deadline.
Deportation
Gakuya’s sentiments come after People Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua was, on May 18, 2025, denied entry into Tanzania and deported to Kenya to prevent her from attending Lissu’s court case.
In a statement on X, Karua said she, alongside Law Society of Kenya (LSK) Council member Gloria Kimani and member of the Pan-African Progressive Leaders Solidarity Network Lynn Ngugi, was detained at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam before later being deported.
“I have been denied entry into Tanzania, and I and two colleagues are awaiting deportation at Mwalimu Nyerere International Airport, Dar es Salaam,” Karua said.
Former Kenyan Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and other prominent rights activists who later travelled there were also deported back into the country on May 19, 2025.
Suluhu succeeded John Magufuli in 2021 and received credit for opening up Tanzania’s political and civic spaces. She created a task force on political reforms and even lifted a six-year ban on political gatherings
