CHADEMA Chief Legal Officer, Dr. Rugemeleza Nshala, has said the party’s chairman, Tundu Lissu, will begin a hunger strike on Monday, October 26, 2026, after being denied his right to meet with his lawyers.

Dr. Nshala said Lissu’s decision follows the Ukonga Prison administration’s insistence on using a procedure that had previously been rejected by the court. Under the proposed arrangement, the deputy prison officer in charge, a lawyer and other officials would be present in the room where Lissu meets his legal team.

He added that Lissu refused to meet with his lawyers, Nashon Nkungu and Paul Kisabo, who had visited him at the prison, arguing that the arrangement violated the court’s order requiring prison officials to remain at a distance where they could see the meeting but not hear the conversation.