Tanzania: the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu resumes after almost six months of interruption

Tundu Lissu arrived at the court with his fist raised and declared himself ready to use this hearing to denounce what he considers to be government abuses. The former Chadema presidential candidate for the 2025 election is being prosecuted for calling for the election to be prevented if electoral reforms are not adopted.

Arrested in April, according to available information, Tundu Lissu is accused of treason, an offense punishable by death in Tanzania. The trial had been suspended several times and had not resumed for nearly six months.

The defense challenges the strength of the case

At the previous hearing, the prosecution sought permission to add new elements to the case. This request was rejected by the appeals court, which deemed it “devoid of foundation.”

For Tundu Lissu’s lawyers, these elements were essential to the prosecution. Their absence would mean that the public prosecutor has not established the necessary charges to continue the proceedings. The defense must therefore ask the High Court to consider that the opposition figure no longer has to answer to the charges and to dismiss the case.

The court must determine whether the evidence already provided by the prosecution is sufficient to justify the continuation of the trial. The hearing schedule anticipates a resumption of debates until September 7.

Chadema questions the testimony of an alleged policeman

Chadema’s spokesperson, Brenda Rupia, condemned what she calls a “mockery of justice” in an interview with RFI. She particularly stated that the witness presented under the name Amin Saeed Mahamba may not be the person he claims to be.

According to her, a man by that name would have died in 2021. This claim, brought forward by the defense and the opposition party, has not been independently confirmed. The trial was reportedly interrupted to verify the true identity of the witness.

Brenda Rupia also accuses the government of fabricating the case and criticizes the workings of the Tanzanian justice system. She asserts that a charge of treason should, in her view, be based on the existence of a conspiracy and not target a single person. The spokesperson finally questions the independence of the judges, claiming that President Samia Suluhu Hassan chooses them directly, without providing evidence to support this allegation.

The Tanzanian authorities have not, based on available information, responded to these statements. The High Court must now rule on the admissibility and sufficiency of the evidence gathered by the prosecution before the trial can potentially continue on the merits.