Dar es Salaam – A Tanzanian court will rule on Monday whether it has the jurisdiction to hear the treason case against prominent opposition figure Tundu Lissu, a decision that will be a critical turning point in the high-stakes trial.
The announcement came on Thursday after another day of intense legal arguments, where Lissu continued his systematic challenge to the foundation of the case against him.
The presiding judge, Judge Joseph Ndunguru, informed the court that the three-judge panel will deliver its decision on the preliminary objection on Monday, September 15, 2025.
This first objection, raised by Lissu, questions the authority of the High Court in Dar es Salaam to hear the case, citing what he argues are numerous and significant procedural errors committed at the committal stage in the lower Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court.
Thursday’s session was marked by Lissu’s detailed and methodical deconstruction of the prosecution’s arguments. Representing himself, the former presidential candidate and lawyer dissected case law presented by the state, arguing that precedents like the Ishengoma and Mbogo cases, when read in their full context, actually supported his position.
READ MORE: Procedural Battles Continue to Delay Substance in Lissu Treason Trial
He argued that the court’s discretion to adjourn proceedings, as outlined in Section 265 of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA), is not absolute and requires the court to provide written reasons, a step he claims was not properly followed.
Lissu also forcefully rebutted the prosecution’s claim that hundreds of alleged errors in the court record were mere “slips of the pen.” He argued that the sheer volume of mistakes pointed to a deliberate “design” to undermine his right to a fair trial.
“If there’s one or two mistakes on 101 pages, you can say it’s a slip of the pen,” Lissu told the court. “But when you have hundreds of mistakes, they are part of the designing for me, and I ask that they be taken as part of the abundant filth that is in here.”
He also addressed the prosecution’s repeated accusation that he was seeking “sympathy” from the court. “I do not ask you judges to decide anything with sympathy,” Lissu declared. “Decide everything with justice and according to your oaths. I don’t need your pity, I need you to decide with justice.”
The trial is unfolding against the backdrop of Tanzania’s upcoming general election on October 29, 2025. While Lissu is not a candidate, the case is seen as a significant event in the country’s political landscape.
READ MORE: Procedural Disputes Mark Second Day of Treason Trial Against Tundu Lissu
His party, CHADEMA, has been facing considerable pressure, with many of its members and leaders facing legal challenges. The trial of one of its most internationally recognised figures is viewed by many as part of a broader pattern of pressure on the opposition.
The proceedings have garnered significant attention on social media, with citizen journalists providing live updates from the courtroom. This has offered a rare, unfiltered view into the legal battle, allowing the public to follow the complex arguments in real-time and drawing international attention to the case.
Lissu has indicated that if the court rules against him on the jurisdictional issue, he will raise a second major preliminary objection challenging the legality of the charge sheet itself, which he claims is fundamentally defective.
This sets the stage for a prolonged legal battle over procedural matters before the trial can even begin to address the substantive treason charges.
The court’s decision on Monday will therefore be a crucial first step in determining the future path of this landmark case, which is shaping up to be one of the most significant political trials in Tanzania’s recent history.
