Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on September 8, 2025.
‘I Will Defend Myself’: Tanzanian Politician Tundu Lissu’s Treason Ordeal Begins
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.
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Tanzania VP Stresses Energy Transition in Fight Against Climate Change
Tanzania’s Vice President, Dr. Isdor Mpango, has underscored the importance of energy transition as a cornerstone in combating climate change, highlighting his country’s commitment to renewable energy investments.
Speaking at the African Heads of State Summit on Climate Change held in Addis Ababa on Monday, Dr. Mpango said Tanzania is scaling up investments in hydropower, solar, geothermal, and wind energy. He noted that natural gas is also being used as a clean transitional energy source to support industrialization and to drive a national clean cooking strategy that aims to ensure 80 percent of households adopt clean cooking solutions by 2034.
Dr. Mpango reaffirmed Tanzania’s pledge to work with partners to achieve the continent-wide goal of connecting 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030, a commitment first outlined during the Africa Energy Mission 300 Summit held in Dar es Salaam in January this year.
“Tanzania remains committed and looks forward to working with all stakeholders to advance these continental ambitions,” said Dr. Mpango.
He further pointed to the Blue Economy Policy in Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland’s Strategic Blue Economy Plan, which promote the sustainable use of ocean, coastal, and terrestrial resources while supporting jobs and resilience in fisheries, maritime transport, and tourism.
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Court to Rule on Luhaga Mpina’s Presidential Candidacy Ban on September 11
The High Court of Tanzania is set to deliver a crucial judgment this week in a case that could have significant implications for the country’s upcoming presidential election.
The court will rule on a petition filed by the opposition party ACT Wazalendo and its presidential hopeful, Luhaga Mpina, challenging his recent disqualification from the October 29, 2025, general election.
The case was brought before the Dodoma High Court as an urgent matter after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) barred Mpina from contesting the presidency on August 27, 2025.
The disqualification followed a ruling by the Registrar of Political Parties, which found that ACT Wazalendo had violated its own internal rules in nominating Mpina.
The complaint, filed by a party member, Monalisa Joseph Ndala, alleged that Mpina’s nomination occurred after the party’s deadline and that he had not been a member for the required minimum of seven months.
Mpina, a former government minister and a vocal critic of the current administration, had only recently defected from the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party on August 6, 2025, just weeks before his nomination.
ACT Wazalendo has decried the disqualification as politically motivated and a tactic to clear the path for incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The party argues that the move is an attempt to stifle political competition and has vowed to fight the decision in court.
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Tanzania’s 2025 Elections: As Campaigns Begin, Main Opposition Party CHADEMA Fights for Its Survival
With just 51 days remaining until the country’s General Election on October 29, 2025, political parties are deep into their campaigns, promoting their manifestos and courting voters for presidential, parliamentary, and local council positions.
The incumbent party, Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which has held power for over six decades, launched its campaign first in Dar es Salaam on August 24, 2025. It has since been campaigning across the nation for its presidential candidate, incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan, and her running mate, Emmanuel Nchimbi.
Various opposition parties have also launched their presidential campaigns, attempting to differentiate their platforms from CCM’s record and promise a new direction if elected. These parties include the Tanzania Labour Party (TLP), Chama cha Kijamii (CCK), MAKINI party, and the National League for Democracy (NLD).
However, for a visitor arriving in Tanzania today, the reality of a multi-party competitive election would be difficult to discern. The vast majority of campaign billboards feature only one candidate: Samia Suluhu Hassan alongside her running mate. The visibility of any opposing candidate is extremely minimal, if any at all.
In a development that has sparked significant domestic debate, some politicians officially running against President Samia have taken the unusual step of publicly praising her instead of criticising her platform.
“I want to congratulate her, and please don’t hate me for this, our mother, our President, Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, for safeguarding the peace of our country,” said Khamis Faki, the vice-presidential candidate for the UDP party, at his campaign launch in Mwanza on September 1, 2025.
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Tanzania Drug Enforcement Seizes Over 33 Tons of Narcotics in Major Crackdown
In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, Tanzania’s Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) has seized over 33 tons of narcotics and arrested 940 suspects in a nationwide operation that took place between July and September 2025.
The announcement was made on Monday by DCEA Commissioner General Aretas Lyimo in Dar es Salaam.
The operation also resulted in the confiscation of 4,553 kilograms of cannabis seeds, the destruction of 64 acres of cannabis plantations, and the seizure of firearms, vehicles, and motorcycles.
Among the significant arrests were three suspects, including Lebanese nationals, who were found with 2.4 kilograms of cocaine in the Manzese area of Dar es Salaam. The drugs were reportedly smuggled from Brazil via Kenya and Uganda using body packing.
In other incidents, an American and his Tanzanian wife were arrested at Bahari Beach with 11 bottles of Ketamine and cannabis. Additionally, authorities seized 50 electronic cigarettes containing cannabis from two clubs in Dar es Salaam.
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Tanzanian Luxury Cars Content Creator Al-Hajj Nourdin Mushi (25) Reported Missing After Abduction Ordeal
The family of 25-year-old Al-Hajj Nourdin Mushi is still searching for his whereabouts after he was abducted by armed men at Tegeta Kibo in Dar es Salaam on September 5, 2025.
Al-Hajj Mushi lives with his brother, Ally Mushi. On the day he went missing, he told Ally that he was going to meet a client interested in hiring a car at the Tegeta Kibo Complex.
At around 7 p.m., witnesses say armed men forced him into a Toyota Wish. Despite shouting and screaming for help, no one at the scene was able to intervene.
“He’s just a young man of 25 years. He asked me for permission to go to the Kibo Complex to meet a client who was seeking to hire a car, but after going there, he never came back. So the next morning we went to that place—Kibo Complex—and they [witnesses] told us, ‘Oh, so you are relatives of that fellow who was abducted,’” his brother Ally told The Chanzo.
READ: Eyewitness Recounts the Abduction of Geita-Based Christian Preacher Who Gained Popularity for His Political Songs: Three Men in a White Land Cruiser Involved
Al-Hajj is well known on Instagram through his page @kings_hot_riders, where he shares pictures of exotic cars in Tanzania along with their prices. In most cases, he does so with the permission of the owners, who sometimes also feature on the page.
The incident has been reported at the Mbweni Police Station under RB number MBN/RB/2209/2025. The family can be contacted through the mobile number +255 683 772 862.
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