Court rules Lissu must face treason trial
Tanzania's High Court has ruled that opposition leader Tundu Lissu has a case to answer on treason charges, ordering him to open his defence in a trial that could carry the death penalty.
The decision, delivered on Friday by a three-judge panel at the High Court's Dar es Salaam Sub-Registry, means Lissu, who has been in detention for 14 months, will proceed to trial, as reported by The EastAfrican.
Presiding judge Dunstan Ndunguru said the court had considered the evidence presented by the prosecution and submissions by the defence on whether the accused had a case to answer. At this stage, the court noted, it was not required to conduct a detailed assessment of the evidence or determine its credibility; its task was to establish whether the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence that, if left unchallenged, could support a conviction.
The charge stems from statements Lissu allegedly made during a Chadema party meeting at the party's headquarters in Dar es Salaam on April 3, 2025, concerning the party's decision not to participate in the 2025 General Election and its alleged intention to prevent the election from being held.
The prosecution alleges that Lissu, a Tanzanian citizen, incited the public to prevent the election by making statements aimed at exerting pressure on the head of the Tanzanian Government. Among the statements attributed to him, as reported by The EastAfrican, are: "If they say this position amounts to rebellion, it is true ... because we are saying we will stop the election, we will mobilise rebellion ... that is how we will bring change ... we are going to make things happen ... we will disrupt this election for real ... we are going to make things happen very badly."
Judge Ndunguru referred to evidence from the 17th witness, who was present at the meeting, and found the prosecution evidence established a sufficient link between Lissu and the allegations. The court also considered three essential elements of the offence of treason, including the accused's allegiance to the United Republic of Tanzania, which was not in dispute as Lissu acknowledged his citizenship.
Lissu, the chairman of the opposition Chadema party, is facing a treason charge under Section 39(2)(d) of the Penal Code, Revised Edition 2023. The penalty if found guilty could be as high as death, according to The EastAfrican.
Africa News reported that Lissu has been detained since April last year for allegedly inciting the public to boycott the November elections. Ahead of the polls, Lissu's party had conducted an election reform campaign dubbed "No Reforms, No Elections," which led to his arrest, the same report said.
Defence and legal disputes
Lissu, who represented himself, said the judges needed to ensure he could meet his lawyers, who have not been allowed to visit him in jail, as reported by Africa News. He also asked the judges to summon several high-ranking government officials, including President Samia Suluhu Hassan, as defence witnesses.
Lissu had earlier attacked the detention, arguing that the prosecution had failed to put evidence of the crime he is alleged to have committed, according to The EastAfrican.
The ruling marks the transition of the case to the defence stage, where Lissu will have an opportunity to respond and present evidence. The treason case arises from political tensions surrounding the 2025 General Election, following Chadema's position against participating unless the government implemented key electoral and political reforms.
Background and context
Lissu, a long-time campaigner who returned from exile in 2023, has faced multiple arrests over the years and survived an assassination attempt in 2017, as reported by Africa News. Security was tight on Friday as his supporters packed the high court for the ruling, which was also attended by foreign diplomats.
Tanzania faced international criticism for violent repression of protests around the elections, with opposition and rights groups saying thousands were killed by security forces, according to Africa News. The government says more than 500 people were killed during the election unrest, without saying who was responsible.
Lissu's party accuses Hassan, who won the last election with 98 per cent of the vote, of a return to the repressive tactics of her predecessor, John Magufuli.
The court's ruling was delivered after prosecutors presented evidence and 17 witnesses testified against Lissu, as reported by Africa News. The EastAfrican dated the decision to Friday, August 21, 2026.