Alex Mathenge

Message from Chairman Tundu Lissu October 26, 2025 “My brothers and sisters, For several weeks now, I have been placed under total isolation — a state of forced loneliness. The fellow inmates who once shared my cell, all of whom had been sentenced to death, have been removed; I have been left completely alone. My cell is now fitted with surveillance cameras (CCTV) that record everything I do — even when I relieve myself or change clothes. I no longer have any privacy whatsoever. This is not a matter of security; it is a deliberate act meant to humiliate my human dignity. I appeal for this matter to be raised loudly and forcefully, because it is a blatant violation of human rights and an offense under the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Mandela Rules), which clearly state that: • The inherent dignity of every human being must be respected, even when imprisoned (Rule 1); • Prolonged or indefinite solitary confinement that denies a prisoner communication with others amounts to cruelty and torture (Rules 43 and 44). It is also a violation of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, Articles 12 and 13, which guarantee the dignity of every person and prohibit torture or degrading treatment. I am prepared to endure any hardship for the sake of my belief in justice and the freedom of our people. But the humiliation of human dignity can never be acceptable — not for me, nor for anyone who bears the name of a human being.” Admin