Dar es Salaam – The treason trial of CHADEMA national chairperson Tundu Lissu was adjourned on Wednesday after the accused delivered a blistering condemnation of the government, accusing it of suppressing court access with tactics “worse than the colonialists.”
On October 14, 2025, the Tanzania Immigration Services Department reported the deportations of two individuals, Dr Brinkel Stefanie, a German passport holder, and Ms Catherine Janel Almquist Kinokfu, a United States passport holder, citing the violations of their visa conditions.
While the notice did not specify the exact nature of the violations, the timing and context strongly suggested their activities were linked to the high-profile political trial. Dr Stefanie, for example, is known to work for the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), a German political foundation with close ties to Lissu’s CHADEMA party.
In an unexpected and powerful opening statement, Mr Lissu seized on the issue, framing it as a continuation of blocked access to the courtroom. He framed the deportations as part of a systematic pattern to isolate his trial from international scrutiny.
“In 1958, there was a major case in this very country: Regina vs Julius Nyerere. The British colonists did not dare to prevent people from attending the trial of their leader. Even during the Mau Mau war, the British did not dare to prevent people from going to listen to the trial of Jomo Kenyatta,” Lissu said.
READ MORE: Lissu Exposes Police Witness’s Contradictions, Grills Credibility in Tense Treason Trial
“Now, 64 years after independence, our government and its security organs are preventing people from entering a court in a country whose laws state that courts must be public,” Mr Lissu critised. We are doing more foolish things than the Europeans who ruled us here in Tanganyika. I do not want the sin of remaining silent in the face of such evil,” he added.
He concluded by stating he did not want the “sin” of remaining silent in the face of such injustice, framing his speech as a moral duty.
When the court resumed, Lissu returned to his cross-examination of Inspector John Kaaya, further challenging the foundation of the treason charge.
In a critical exchange, Lissu pressed the witness on the core accusation that he intended to “intimidate the government.” He read the exact words from the charge sheet aloud in court: “Walisema msimamo huu unaashiria uasi; ni kweli kwa sababau tunasema tutazuia uchaguzi; hii ndiyo namna ya kupata mabadiliko. Tutaenda kukinukisha sana.”
“They said this position signifies rebellion; it is true because we say we will stop the election; this is the way to bring change. We will shake it up thoroughly.”
READ MORE: Tundu Lissu Turns Tables, Grills Police Witness on Treason Law and Political History
Lissu: “In these words that I am accused of, is the word ‘government’ mentioned?”
Kaaya: “In these words, you did not mention it, but it is there by implication.”
Lissu: “Did I mention the Independent Electoral Commission?”
Kaaya: “You did not mention the Independent Electoral Commission.”
This line of questioning, it seems, sought to highlight that his alleged statements were directed at an electoral process run by an independent body, not at the government itself—a key distinction for a treason charge.
Lissu also continued to challenge the witness’s professional competence, exposing that the Inspector, who holds an LL.B law degree, could not recall the legal definition of “intimidation” in the Penal Code and admitted he had not even read the formal charge sheet against the accused.
The day’s proceedings were halted at 11:00 AM at the request of the prosecution, who were attending the funeral of the High Court Registrar of Shinyanga Zone, Asha Khamis Mwetindwa.
The trial will resume on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 9:00 AM, where Lissu is expected to continue his cross-examination.
