Dar es Salaam – The treason trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu took a dramatic turn on Thursday, February 19, 2026, as the three-judge panel firmly rejected the prosecution’s attempt to silence reporting on the case, while Mr Lissu continued his systematic demolition of the state’s witnesses.

The day began with a heated debate over the prosecution’s complaint that the trial was being reported on social media and that witnesses were being called “liars.” 

State Attorney Renatus Mkude invoked Section 114 of the Penal Code, suggesting that the court should restrict reporting on the case.

Mr Lissu, who is representing himself, responded with a passionate defence of open justice, arguing that the prosecution was attempting to create a “shroud of darkness” over the trial.

Tundu Lissu: Your Honours, I ask you not to accept this invitation being given by the government lawyers. Their complaints are criminal complaints that have not happened before you. You have not seen them, you have not heard them, and you have not been told what they are. All these things have not happened before you while the court is proceeding. If you are told to make a ruling on those matters, you will have opened up impossible things. If they feel there is a crime, they should go to the proper court and open a case. If it’s lawyers, there are procedures to deal with lawyers who violate professional procedures. So you are being invited to a field that has no rules; it’s not a legal field. Finally, and this is my fear—they want darkness in this big case. In a treason case, they don’t want there to be debate. They’re discussing something to the public that’s impossible. They want to close people down. You’ll close the whole country, and you won’t be able to. That’s all, Your Honours.

Judge Dunstan Ndunguru, leading the three-judge panel, sided with Mr Lissu, stating that the court would not be drawn into the prosecution’s complaints and would continue with the trial.

READ MORE: Lissu Shows Compassion as Prosecution Struggles; Another Witness Crumbles Under Cross-Examination

Judge Ndunguru: I have heard all the arguments. Every day, you emphasise the use of Section 114. If there are things that are not right, you cannot wait for someone to raise them. We also see, and we will take action. So you continue to emphasise Section 114 and tell us to stay away from the violation of that section. The use of Section 114 is the domain of the court. The court will use that section if it sees it necessary to use it. So let’s proceed with the witnesses.

The provision outlines contempt of court offences, covering disrespectful behaviour, disturbances, witness interference, and publications that could prejudice proceedings or undermine judicial authority. 

It grants courts the power to impose fines or imprisonment, including immediate sentencing for offences committed in the court’s presence, while also protecting witnesses from retaliation.

Detective Corporal Vincent

The first witness of the day, Detective Corporal Vincent, a 36-year-old police officer from Mbeya, testified that he had arrested a suspect, P9, for inciting people to stop the 2025 election. 

However, under Mr Lissu’s cross-examination, the officer admitted that critical details were missing from his police statement, including the legal basis for the arrest.

When Mr Lissu attempted to have the officer read from the Police General Orders (PGO) to demonstrate that the officer had violated procedure, the officer admitted he couldn’t read English.

Tundu Lissu: Tell the witness to read PGO 236. 

Witness Vincent: This PGO is in English. I can’t read it.

Tundu Lissu: [Inspector General of Police Camillus] Wambura wrote in English. You all know English. So you can’t read because it’s in English? 

Witness Vincent: There’s one in Swahili.

Tundu Lissu: Know English or don’t know. My question you’ll answer it. I ask for my PGO.

READ MORE:‘I Know It’s a Crime, But I Don’t Know the Law’: Police Witness Crumples in Lissu Treason Trial

Mr Lissu then had the officer’s statement admitted as Exhibit D11 and proceeded to show that the officer had arrested P9 without knowing what crime he had committed.

Tundu Lissu: Tell the judges, in your understanding, is there a crime of stopping the main election? 

Witness Vincent: There is a crime.

Tundu Lissu: Under what law or because you’re a police officer? 

Witness Vincent: Mm, I don’t know, but there is a crime.

When Mr Lissu showed the witness the election law and the Penal Code, the officer could not identify any law that made “stopping the election” a crime.

‘CHADEMA supporter’

The second witness of the day, a 35-year-old Bajaji driver testifying as ‘P3,’ claimed to be a CHADEMA supporter who had been inspired by Mr Lissu to plan to disrupt the election by throwing stones at voters. 

However, under cross-examination, the witness admitted he had no proof of his CHADEMA affiliation and that his police statement was riddled with contradictions.

READ MORE:Lissu Continues Courtroom Demolition of Prosecution Witnesses; Laughter Erupts as Testimony Unravels

Tundu Lissu: I’m a leader of CHADEMA, and anyone here in court, how will they know if you’re a CHADEMA supporter? You have no identification, and I also don’t see you. 

Witness P3: It’s a matter of faith.

Tundu Lissu: Let’s proceed systematically, brother. Tell the judges if CHADEMA supporters are registered somewhere so they can be identified. 

Witness P3: Personally, I don’t know where they’re registered.

Tundu Lissu: So they’re not registered? 

Witness P3: That’s correct.

When Mr Lissu asked the witness why he should not be considered a pandikizi (informant) of the police, the witness remained silent.

Tundu Lissu: So why should we say you’re a pandikizi (informant) of [Director of Criminal Investigation Ramadhani] Kingai and his police? 

Witness P3: [Silent]

The witness also admitted that he had never been charged with any crime for his alleged plan to throw stones at voters.

Tundu Lissu: Did you plan a conspiracy with the police to pretend to be a CHADEMA member and come to give testimony here? 

Witness P3: It’s not true.

Tundu Lissu: If it’s not true, why haven’t you been charged? 

Witness P3: I don’t know.

The trial was adjourned until Friday, February 20, 2026, at 9:00 AM, when Mr Lissu will cross-examine the third witness of the day, P9.

READ MORE:Laughter in Court as Lissu Dismantles Witnesses in Treason Trial

By the end of Thursday’s proceedings, the defence had submitted two more exhibits (D11 and D12), bringing the total to twelve defence exhibits. The prosecution, meanwhile, still had zero exhibits accepted by the court.

The trial continues to be a masterclass in legal strategy by the self-representing defendant, as he systematically dismantles the prosecution’s case, one witness at a time.