He is also the former President of Tanganyika Law Society (TLS),[2] the bar association of Tanzania mainland, and Chief Legal Officer for Tanzanian opposition party CHADEMA.

[4][5] Lissu was responsible for the research and preparation of the document that revealed the involvement of the state's high ranking officials in plundering of public funds, known as the 'List of Shame'.

On 23 August 2017, his home was searched by the police after he was arrested and questioned over allegations of sedition and insulting President John Magufuli, calling him a 'petty dictator'.

[8] His arrest came [9] after he revealed to the public[10] that a plane bought for the countries national carrier Air Tanzania had been impounded in Canada over unpaid government debts.

[34][35] On the 22nd of January 2025, he was elected the chairman of CHADEMA Tanzanian leading opposition party beating the incumbent Freeman Mbowe, by a close 31 votes.