DAR ES SALAAM — The treason case against Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu has been postponed until July 30, 2025, following a request by the prosecution to delay proceedings while the High Court reviews a witness protection application.
The Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court granted the adjournment after state attorneys said the trial could not proceed without the High Court’s determination on whether certain witnesses should be shielded during testimony.
Tundu Lissu, chairman of Tanzania’s main opposition party CHADEMA, has criticized the delay and urged the court to avoid further postponements. “This cannot go on indefinitely,” Lissu told the court during his appearance in Dar es Salaam.
The charge stems from remarks made during a rally in Mbinga District on April 3, where Lissu called for electoral reforms ahead of the October 2025 general election. The prosecution claims those remarks incited public unrest and amounted to treason.
According to the charge sheet, Lissu was quoted saying, “We will prevent the election. We will inspire rebellion. That is the way to get change.” Authorities allege he also encouraged disrupting the upcoming vote.
On April 9, Lissu was arrested by police after addressing supporters during a peaceful rally. Officers forced him into a vehicle shortly after the event concluded. Supporters were dispersed using tear gas when they resisted the arrest.
Lissu appeared in court the following day, charged with treason and publishing false information. He denied the misinformation charge. However, the court did not allow a plea on the treason charge, which carries serious legal consequences under Tanzanian law.
His lawyer, Rugemeleza Nshala, described the charges as politically motivated. “This is not just a legal case; it’s political. He was informing CHADEMA supporters about electoral rights,” Nshala said.
Lissu has long been a prominent critic of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party. In 2017, he survived an assassination attempt after being shot 16 times in an attack that remains unsolved. He fled into exile but returned in 2023 after President Samia Suluhu Hassan lifted some restrictions on political activity.
While President Samia Suluhu Hassan was initially praised for easing some repressive policies enforced during the late John Magufuli’s administration, she has faced mounting criticism over recent arrests of political opponents and reports of abductions.
The Tanzanian government has defended its actions, saying it is committed to upholding national security and the rule of law. President Samia Suluhu has ordered investigations into reported cases of political abductions.
The ongoing treason case adds further tension to the political landscape, just months before voters head to the polls. Lissu’s campaign, centered around the slogan “No Reforms, No Election,” calls for overhauling the electoral commission and ending presidential appointments to the body.
As of now, Lissu and his legal team await the next court date on July 30. If the High Court approves the prosecution’s request for witness protection, the trial will resume with new conditions governing testimony.
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