Good morning! The Chanzo is here with a rundown of major news stories reported in Tanzania on Monday
Lissu Continues Courtroom Demolition of Prosecution Witnesses; Laughter Erupts as Testimony Unravels
The High Court treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu continued its pattern of devastating cross-examinations on Monday, February 16, 2026, as two more prosecution witnesses saw their credibility systematically dismantled by the self-representing defendant, drawing repeated bursts of laughter from the packed courtroom.
The seventh and eighth prosecution witnesses took the stand, but both left with their testimonies severely compromised after facing Mr Lissu’s methodical questioning. By the end of the day, the defence had submitted five exhibits to the court, whilst the prosecution remained unable to present a single accepted exhibit.
The first witness of the day, a 38-year-old electrical technician from Songea who testified as ‘P2,’ claimed he had been inspired by a YouTube video of Mr Lissu to participate in disrupting the 2025 election.
He testified that he contributed Sh10,000 to a CHADEMA fund-raising campaign of Tone Tone, and participated in planning a rally that was subsequently shut down by police. However, under Mr. Lissus cross-examination, the witness’s story fell apart.
Lissu had his police statement from April 24, 2025, admitted as evidence and systematically compared what the witness said in court to what was recorded in that statement. Read the full article here.
Tanzania’s PM Confirms Abduction Crisis Amid Mounting Pressure
Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba has acknowledged that Tanzania is grappling with a significant abduction problem and has ordered local authorities to protect citizens who speak out, marking a rare public admission of a crisis that has gripped the nation for years now.
The prime minister’s statement on February 16, 2026, in Muheza, Tanga, came in response to a plea from a local official who expressed fear for his life after being threatened by a district commissioner.
Erasto, the chairperson of Machemba sub-village, attributed the threat to his exposing of illegal logging in his community.
“It is true we have a problem of this kind in the country,” Mr Nchemba conceded, before publicly instructing the official to ensure the man’s safety. “When people speak like this, protect them from threats,” he declared. “You will be protected. You are safe.”
This public acknowledgement represents a significant departure from the government’s previous stance of denial and opacity.For sometime now, Tanzania has been gripped by a wave of abductions, disappearances, and killings targeting government critics, opposition figures, activists, and ordinary citizens.
The pattern has been particularly acute around election periods, with a notable escalation in the lead-up to the October 2025 general election. Read the full article here.
High Court of Tanzania Rules Secret Witness Law Unconstitutional, Orders Review of Protective Measures
In a landmark decision delivered on February 16, 2026, the High Court of Tanzania declared section 194 of the Criminal Procedure Act unconstitutional to the extent that it denies defence counsel the right to apply for protective measures for their witnesses.
The court, in a constitutional petition brought by human rights advocate Godfrey Mjuni Martin Basasingohe, found that the provision violates the doctrine of equal protection of the law guaranteed under Article 12(2) of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania.
The ruling comes amidst a heated legal battle over the use of secret witnesses in the high-profile treason case against CHADEMA national chairperson, Tundu Lissu. The court ordered that, pending legislative amendment, any ex-parte protective measures granted under section 194 shall be subject to urgent inter-partes review upon application by an accused person or their advocate.
This decision effectively allows Mr Lissu and other accused persons to challenge the anonymity of witnesses testifying against them. Read the full article here.
Five Dead in Tanga’s Quarry Collapse as Mining Safety Concerns Mount
Five men have died after a sand quarry collapsed in the Tanga region, the latest in a series of fatal mining accidents that have plagued the country. The incident occurred on the evening of February 15, 2026, when the walls of the Bolbit quarry in Makuyuni village suddenly gave way, burying the miners under debris.
Tanga Regional Police Commander Almachius Mchunguzi confirmed the deaths and stated that a rescue operation involving police, the fire service, and local residents had recovered the bodies. The victims were identified as local farmers who also engaged in sand mining.
Such tragedies are a recurring issue in Tanzania’s mining sector, particularly in small-scale and artisanal operations. In 2025 alone, at least 13 miners were killed in two other major incidents.
In August, a gold mine collapse in Nyandolwa, Shinyanga, trapped 25 miners, resulting in at least seven fatalities. Just a few months earlier, in May, six people described as “illegal miners” were killed when a gold mine collapsed in the same region.
Historical data paints an even grimmer picture. A 2017 report revealed that 27 people had died in the first five months of that year, a significant increase from the 30 deaths recorded for the entirety of 2016. One of the worst recorded disasters occurred in 2008, when floods swept through tanzanite mines in Mererani, killing at least 65 miners. Read the full article here.
Tanzania Confirms EACOP Nearing Completion with July 2026 Target
A government update on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) has confirmed the project is 81 per cent complete and on track for commissioning by July 2026.
During a site visit by Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba on February 16, 2026, Deputy Minister for Energy, Salome Makamba, provided a detailed progress report, which aligns with information publicly available from the EACOP project’s official communications.
Ms Makamba stated that the government has already collected over Sh70 billion in fees and taxes from the project. She further announced that the nation anticipates earning over Sh2.3 trillion once the pipeline becomes operational.
This specific long-term revenue projection is a new detail that has not been widely publicised.
The total cost of the project is consistently cited at approximately US$5.6 billion, and Tanzania holds a 15 per cent stake. The creation of over 10,000 jobs across Tanzania and Uganda during the construction phase is also a widely reported figure, which Ms Makamba reiterated.
According to the deputy minister, 75 per cent of these jobs have been allocated to low and mid-skilled Tanzanians, with the remaining 25 per cent filled by Tanzanian professionals in technical fields.She also noted that over 200 local companies have secured contracts valued at more than Sh1.325 trillion.
This is it for today, and we hope you enjoyed our briefing. Follow us on X (Twitter) (here), or you can support us (here). And if you have any questions or comments, please drop a word to our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.
