Dar es Salaam. The high-profile treason case against Tundu Lissu, the chairperson of Tanzania’s main opposition party, CHADEMA, commenced on September 8, 2025, at the High Court in Dar es Salaam.
The trial, which has drawn significant international attention, is seen by many as a critical test for democracy and the rule of law in the East African nation, particularly in the lead-up to the October 2025 general elections.
Lissu, a fierce critic of the government, is accused of treason for allegedly inciting the public to prevent the upcoming elections. His arrest and subsequent trial have been condemned by human rights organisations and opposition figures as politically motivated, aimed at silencing dissent and crippling the opposition ahead of the polls.
The case has been fraught with legal challenges and procedural disputes from the outset, highlighting the deep-seated political tensions in Tanzania.
The first day of the trial was marked by immediate legal challenges from Lissu, who is representing himself. Before a three-judge panel led by High Court Resident Judge Dunstan Ndunguru, Lissu raised two preliminary objections.
READ MORE: Tanzania’s 2025 Elections: As Campaigns Begin, Main Opposition Party CHADEMA Fights for Its Survival
His first objection challenged the High Court’s jurisdiction to hear the case, arguing that numerous issues were mishandled at the lower Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court. His second objection questioned the legality of the treason charge itself.
Adding to the courtroom drama, a government-appointed lawyer, Neema Saruni, who was assigned to represent Lissu due to the gravity of the charge, informed the court that Lissu had chosen to defend himself.
Lissu, a lawyer with over two decades of experience, confirmed this, stating, “I have been a lawyer and advocate for over 20 years now, so the Court should not worry about my ability to defend myself.” He thanked the court for the gesture but insisted on fighting the charges himself, which he described as “serious.”
The proceedings hit a further snag when it became apparent that the court documents Lissu had received from the Kisutu court differed from those held by the prosecution and the judges. This discrepancy forced the court to adjourn to allow the judges to review the missing documents, further delaying the trial.
Tundu Lissu is no stranger to political and legal battles. The 57-year-old opposition leader has a long history of challenging the Tanzanian government and has been arrested multiple times on various charges, including sedition. His political career has been marked by a relentless campaign for democratic reforms and a vocal critique of the ruling party.
READ MORE: Tanzanian Court Bans Live Broadcast of Treason Trial Against CHADEMA Leader Tundu Lissu
In 2017, Lissu survived a brutal assassination attempt, where he was shot 16 times by unknown assailants in the administrative capital, Dodoma. The attack, which he and his supporters believe was politically motivated, forced him into exile for several years for medical treatment in Kenya and Belgium.
The incident, however, did not silence him. Researchers have noted that the assassination attempt “radicalised him” and “made him fearless.”
Lissu returned to Tanzania in 2020 to contest the presidential election but left the country again, citing death threats. He made a final return in 2023, to a hero’s welcome from his supporters, to continue his political activities.
The treason charge against Lissu stems from his role in CHADEMA’s No Reforms, No Election campaign. The party has been demanding significant electoral reforms ahead of the October 2025 general elections, arguing that the current system heavily favors the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.
Lissu is accused of inciting the public to prevent the holding of the elections, a charge that carries the death penalty in Tanzania.
The political climate in Tanzania has become increasingly tense in the run-up to the elections. While President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who took office in 2021, initially made some moves towards political reconciliation, including lifting a ban on political rallies, the opposition and human rights groups accuse her government of continuing the repressive policies of her predecessor, the late John Magufuli.
CHADEMA has been barred from participating in the upcoming elections, and there have been reports of abductions and killings of political opponents.
The court has also imposed restrictions on the media coverage of the trial, banning live broadcasts to protect the identity of civilian witnesses. Lissu has vehemently opposed these measures, comparing the proceedings to the secretive and unjust “Star Chamber” of 17th-century England.
Despite the court’s strict directive prohibiting mobile phones in the courtroom, the trial attracted significant attention on social media platforms. Multiple accounts shared live updates directly from the courtroom, defying the court’s repeated warnings about the ban on electronic devices.
The court had to reiterate the no-phones policy several times during the hearing, highlighting the challenge of controlling information flow in high-profile political cases.
The widespread social media coverage underscored the intense public interest in the case, with supporters and observers using platforms like X, formerly Twitter, to share real-time developments.
This digital defiance of court orders reflects the broader tensions surrounding press freedom and transparency in Tanzania’s judicial system, particularly in politically sensitive cases.
The case has been adjourned and is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., when the court will continue hearing Lissu’s preliminary objections and address the document discrepancies that emerged during the first day of proceedings.
