Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on September 22, 2025.
Setback for CHADEMA Leader Tundu Lissu as Court Greenlights Treason Trial
A panel of high court judges on Monday dismissed key preliminary objections filed by opposition leader Tundu Lissu, clearing the way for his controversial treason trial to proceed.
The court ruled that the charge sheet is valid and that any procedural issues with witness statements were not sufficient to warrant a dismissal of the case.
The ruling came after a dramatic day in a packed courtroom, where CHADEMA party leaders, led by Deputy Chairperson (Tanzania Mainland) John Heche, joined hundreds of supporters who had gathered to witness the crucial decision.
The atmosphere was electric, with supporters showing solidarity by clenching their fists when greeting Lissu, demonstrating the political significance of the moment.
The ruling represents a major setback for Lissu’s legal strategy, which had focused on challenging the technical and procedural foundation of the prosecution’s case.
Read the full article here.
Study Findings Challenge Theoretical Framework-Currency Depreciation Leads to Trade Balance: ‘Exchange Management Cannot Singularly Address Tanzania’s Trade Imbalance’
The findings from a newly released study by economists at the Bank of Tanzania have challenged the theoretical framework that currency depreciation leads to trade balance, popularly known as the Marshall–Lerner (M-L) condition.
The theory, long considered conventional wisdom among economists, has been used in setting up remedies for trade imbalances by institutions such as the IMF, with policies modeled on it in countries like Japan, India, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. The study, titled Exchange Rate Movement and Trade Balance in Tanzania: Evidence from the Marshall–Lerner Condition, emphasizes that while the theory may hold in developed economies, evidence shows that in Tanzania and other developing economies, currency depreciation alone cannot guarantee a trade balance.
The theory posits that when a country’s currency depreciates, its locally produced goods become cheaper, hence more price-competitive externally, leading to higher exports. At the same time, residents of that country are expected to reduce imports, as foreign goods become more expensive compared to domestic goods. The two economists behind the study, Suleiman Missango and Lusajo Mwankemwa, analyzed trends between 2000 and 2024, testing the conditions across various periods, including during times of global shocks and high trade activity.
Read the full article here.
Tanzanian Police Surround Lawyers’ Association Headquarters to Quash Planned Protest
In a move widely seen as an act of intimidation, Tanzanian police on Monday surrounded the headquarters of the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), Tanzania Mainland’s bar association.
The action comes just days after the TLS called for a peaceful protest on Monday, September 22, to denounce police brutality against lawyers.
In an official statement shared on social media, TLS President Boniphace Mwabukusi condemned the police presence and described it as “increased security,” while interpreting it as a direct attempt to silence the legal body.
He vowed that the TLS would not be cowed, stating, “We will not fear to uphold justice and fight oppression,” and urged members to remain vigilant against deliberate provocation.
Videos by TLS circulated online showing multiple police vehicles and armed officers stationed around the association’s offices at Plot No. 391 on Chato Street.
Read the full article here.
Viral Video of School Beating Sparks Fierce Debate Over Corporal Punishment
A video showing a teacher brutally beating a student at a secondary school has ignited a nationwide debate on social media about corporal punishment in schools, with the victim’s mother demanding justice while public opinion remains sharply divided.
The incident at Makumbusho Secondary School in Dar es Salaam has generated intense discussions on social media platforms, exposing deep divisions in Tanzanian society about discipline in schools.
The viral video shows a male teacher repeatedly striking a student lying on the ground with a stick, sparking outrage from child rights advocates and support from those who defend traditional disciplinary methods.
Amina Salumu, the mother of the beaten student, has spoken out publicly about the September 18, 2025 incident involving her son, Khatibu Salim, a Form Two student. In one interview, Amina revealed that her son was allegedly beaten “for talking in class” despite already being ill with typhoid and experiencing back pain.
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