Dar es Salaam – The High Court of Tanzania on Wednesday delivered a mixed ruling in the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, handing him a partial victory by ordering modifications to a secret witness booth but rejecting his broader challenges to the legality of the procedure.
The trial, which has been marked by significant delays, is now set to proceed with the use of concealed witnesses under a modified arrangement.
In a ruling delivered on February 11, 2026, a three-judge panel led by Judge Dunstan Ndunguru agreed with Mr Lissu’s primary objection that the witness booth, or kizimba, in its current form was unlawful.
Mr Lissu had argued that because the booth completely obscured the witness, it prevented the judges from assessing their demeanour, a crucial element of a fair trial. The court ordered that the booth be altered so that the judges can see the witness before testimony continues.
The court, however, dismissed four other significant objections raised by Mr Lissu. It rejected his arguments that the 2025 Witness Protection Rules were invalid and could not be applied retrospectively. The judges affirmed that the rules were properly established under existing law.
READ MORE: Tundu Lissu’s Treason Trial Resumes With Fierce Legal Debate Over ‘Secret Witness’
The court also dismissed the claim that using a secret witness whom Mr Lissu cannot see or identify violates his fundamental right to a fair trial and to confront his accuser.
Following the ruling, the prosecution requested an adjournment to make the court-ordered modifications to the booth. Mr Lissu strongly opposed the delay, arguing that the prosecution should have had alternative, unprotected witnesses ready to testify.
“This adjournment to correct the booth is harming me and denying me my rights… if you adjourn, I go to prison,” Mr Lissu stated, highlighting that he has been in custody for over 300 days while the trial has only been heard for a handful of days.
The judges granted the prosecution’s request, adjourning the case until Thursday, February 12, 2026.
The ruling follows a fiery hearing on February 9, where Mr Lissu, who is representing himself, described the use of a faceless accuser as a “mockery of justice” and a procedure reminiscent of the 16th-century Star Chamber.
READ MORE:Treason Trial Paralysed by Tundu Lissu’s Legal Challenge to ‘Secret Witness’
He has consistently raised concerns about the slow pace of the proceedings and his conditions in prison, including alleging that his confidential conversations with lawyers were being monitored.
Mr. Lissu, a fierce critic of the Samia Suluhu Hassan government and a survivor of a 2017 assassination attempt, was arrested in April 2025. His case has drawn significant national and international attention amid concerns over the state of democracy and rule of law in Tanzania.
