Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on September 11, 2025 

Tanzanian Court to Rule on Jurisdiction in Tundu Lissu Treason Trial on Sept. 15

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.

Read the full article here.

Luhaga Mpina: High Court Reinstates Opposition Presidential Candidate, Citing Unconstitutional Disqualification

 In a landmark decision Thursday, the High Court of Tanzania overturned the disqualification of opposition presidential candidate Luhaga Mpina, ruling that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) acted unconstitutionally and violated his and his party’s right to be heard.

The ruling, delivered today, September 11, 2025, orders the electoral commission to allow Mpina, of the ACT Wazalendo party, to be registered as a candidate for the October 29 general election, giving the left-leaning party a significant victory, and bringing forth a major development in what has been a contentious election season.

The High Court’s judgment was a strong rebuke of the INEC’s handling of Mpina’s candidacy. The court declared that the INEC is an independent body and is not obligated to follow orders from any other government institution, including the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, which had initially ruled against Mpina’s nomination.

The court found that the INEC’s decision to disqualify Mpina without a proper hearing was a violation of his constitutional rights.

The court’s ruling stated: “We declare that the Independent National Electoral Commission denied the petitioners an opportunity to be heard and that the letter from the Independent National Electoral Commission is unconstitutional, and has no legal force.”

Read the full article here.

ZEC Clears 11 Candidates for 2025 Zanzibar Presidential Race

The Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) has approved 11 presidential candidates for the archipelago’s 2025 election, marking a significant development in the semi-autonomous territory’s preparations for the democratic exercise, which will take place from October 28 to 29.

ZEC chairperson Judge George Joseph Kazi announced the confirmed candidates during a certificate ceremony at the commission’s Maisara headquarters on Thursday, revealing that only 11 of the 17 politicians who collected nomination forms successfully met the stringent legal requirements.

The approved candidates include Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi from the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which has governed Zanzibar since the restoration of multi-party democracy in 1995, and Othman Masoud Othman from the opposition Alliance for Change and Transparency-Wazalendo (ACT-Wazalendo).

Other confirmed candidates are Juma Ali Khatib (ADA Tadea), Hamad Ibrahim Mohamed (UPDP), Ameir Hassan Ameir (Chama cha Makini), Said Soud (AAFP), and Ms Lela Rajab Khamis (NCCR-Mageuzi), alongside Hassan Juma Salum (TLP), Khamis Faki Mgau (NRA), Hamad Rashid (ADC), and Mfaume Khamis Hassan (NLD).

Read the full article here.

Tragic Rorya Accident Claims Seven Lives, Highlighting Tanzania’s Ongoing Road Safety Crisis

Seven people, including four men and three women, were killed in the early hours of September 11, 2025, when the Probox vehicle they were travelling in slammed into a stationary truck in Kongo village, Rorya district, Mara region. The victims were returning from the Simba Day festival in Dar es Salaam to their home village of Utegi.

The accident occurred when the Probox, with registration number T 625 DYV, collided with a broken-down truck that was left on the road without any warning signs. Dr Yonah Charles, the Medical Officer in Charge at Tarime District Hospital, confirmed that all seven individuals died at the scene.

The Police Force has launched an investigation into the incident to determine the precise cause and any contributing negligence.

This tragic incident is not an isolated event but rather a stark reminder of the broader road safety crisis plaguing Tanzania. While official government data reported over 1,300 road fatalities in 2023, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates the actual number could be as high as 10,000 annually. Read the full article here.

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