Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on September 16, 2025.
Tanzanian Court Adjourns Lissu Treason Trial Amid Renewed Tensions Over Courtroom Access
The treason trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu was temporarily halted on Tuesday morning amidst a tense standoff over public access to the courtroom.
The day’s proceedings, which were scheduled to hear Lissu’s second preliminary objection, were delayed for an hour after he protested that his supporters were being unlawfully barred from attending the public hearing.
The tension is a direct continuation of Monday’s events, which saw police use force to disperse supporters of Lissu’s CHADEMA party, leading to several injuries and arrests.
On Tuesday, CHADEMA members again claimed they were being prevented from entering the courtroom by police. In an act of solidarity, party members who had already gained entry walked out to join their colleagues outside.
When the hearing began, Lissu immediately raised the issue with the three-judge panel, stating that the case could not proceed while citizens were being denied their right to observe the trial.
Read the full article here.
Tanzania’s Deadly Week: 17 Lives Lost in Three Separate Road Accidents Expose Nation’s Safety Crisis
A devastating week of road carnage has claimed 17 lives across Tanzania, with three separate fatal accidents between Sunday and Tuesday highlighting the country’s persistent struggle with road safety as families and communities grapple with preventable tragedies.
The latest tragedy struck on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, when five people died and one was injured in a head-on collision in Bukumbi village, Misungwi district, Mwanza region. The victims included four nuns from the Carmelite Missionary Sisters of Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus from Kenya and Italy, along with their driver.
According to Mwanza Regional Police Commander Wilbroad Mutafungwa, the accident occurred when a Toyota Land Cruiser (registration T 852 DGP), owned by Bukumbi Girls Secondary School and carrying the religious sisters, collided head-on with a truck (registration T 541 DCH) and its trailer (registration T 835 DCJ), owned by Nyanza Construction Company.
“The car driver, without taking any precaution, moved from his side to the right side, where he met the truck,” Mutafungwa explained, highlighting yet another case of reckless driving contributing to Tanzania’s mounting road death toll.
Tuesday’s accident coincided with funeral services at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), Kijitonyama Parish, for five members of one family who perished on Sunday while travelling from Tanga to Dar es Salaam.
Read the full article here.
Tanzania’s Commission for Human Rights Urges Police to Act Professionally, Avoid Unnecessary Tension Ahead of the Election
The Commission for Human Rights and Good Governance (CHRAGG) has called on the Tanzania Police Force to observe professionalism and avoid unnecessary tension during the election period.
Speaking during a training session on human rights and good governance for police officials on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, CHRAGG Chairperson, Retired Judge Mathew Mwaimu, stressed the importance of upholding human rights throughout the electoral process.
“For elections to be free and fair, before, during, and after the polls, human rights must be respected, protected, and fulfilled,” said Judge Mwaimu.
He continued: “During this election period, the Police Force has a duty to avoid unnecessary conflicts. Instead, they must ensure the safety of people and their property throughout the entire election period.”
“Law enforcement officers must at all times fulfill their legal obligations by engaging with the community and protecting all people from acts that violate the law, while observing the highest level of accountability required by their profession,” he emphasized.
Read the full article here.
JamiiForums Founder Warns of ‘Killing Local Innovation’ Following 90-Day TCRA Ban
Maxence Melo, the founder of Tanzania’s prominent online forum JamiiForums, has issued a stark warning to regulators, stating that arbitrary punitive measures threaten to stifle homegrown innovation and could ultimately force some companies to relocate outside the country.
The warning comes nearly two weeks after the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) imposed a 90-day ban on the platform. TCRA cited violations of the 2020 Online Content Guidelines (and its 2022 and 2025 amendments) for publishing content it claimed “misleads the public, insults, and defames the government and President” Samia Suluhu Hassan.
In an exclusive interview with The Chanzo on September 15, Melo framed the ban as a critical blow to Tanzania’s digital ecosystem.
“We are instilling fear in Tanzanian youth and robbing them of the courage to build something like this themselves,” Melo stated. “We should be nurturing local talent to create platforms that can grow and compete globally.
“Instead, we are essentially killing local content and inviting international platforms to dominate our digital space. This is not just a bad look for our country—it actively discourages the next generation of innovators.”
Read the full article here.
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