Dar es Salaam – The High Court of Tanzania on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, suspended the high-profile treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, after a dramatic day that saw judges rule in Mr Lissu’s favour, prosecutors disappear for hours, and the state ultimately halt the proceedings by seeking a revision at the Court of Appeal.
The day began with a significant victory for Mr Lissu, as the three-judge panel ruled on his objection to the prosecution’s attempt to introduce new evidence.
The judges agreed entirely with Mr Lissu’s argument, finding that the prosecution’s notice to add evidence for an existing witness, ACP Amin Mahamba, was “incompetent” and not recognised by law.
“The notice of additional evidence brought by the prosecution is not recognised by Section 308 of the Criminal Procedure Act,” the judges ruled.
“Fundamentally, it is not correct, and after saying that, the only remedy is that the notice must be struck out,” they added.
Drama and delay
Following the ruling, the lead state attorney, Renatus Mkude, requested a one-hour adjournment for the prosecution team to “reflect.” However, they did not return for nearly four hours, leaving the judges, Mr Lissu, and a packed courtroom waiting.
READ MORE: Tundu Lissu Warns of ‘Pandora’s Box’ in Fiery Clash Over New Evidence
The prolonged absence led to frustration, with supporters beginning to chant, “Tunaitaka Jamhuri! (We want the Republic!).”
When the prosecution team finally returned in the afternoon, Mr Mkude announced that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had filed a notice of motion for a revision of the High Court’s ruling at the Court of Appeal.
Mr Lissu, representing himself, immediately condemned the move as a deliberate delaying tactic.
Tundu Lissu: I know, and I trust they also know, that according to Section 8(2)(d) of the Appellate Jurisdiction Act, which they have cited, it does not allow for an appeal, review, or revision of interlocutory decisions of the High Court that do not conclude the main case. I have no doubt they know this.
He accused the prosecution of abusing the legal process to ensure he remains incarcerated.
READ MORE: Judges Reject Prosecution Bid to Silence Court Reporting; Lissu Pushes to Discredit More Witnesses
Tundu Lissu: I want it on the record that I know, and I believe the prosecution knows, that the purpose of taking a revision application to the Court of Appeal, when they know it is not allowed, is to prolong these proceedings so that I continue to stay in prison. That is all. To take it to the Court of Appeal so that their enemy, who is me, continues to sit in prison.
Fighting on
In a defiant conclusion, he vowed to continue the fight in the higher court.
Tundu Lissu: Since they are taking me to the Court of Appeal, I want to tell them that I will follow them there and I am going to deal with them right there. Just as their case is dead on arrival, I know even this revision of theirs is already dead. We will return here after the Court of Appeal matter is over, and I will deal with them when we get back.
Mr Lissu also used the opportunity to again raise the issue of his prison conditions, telling the judges he is still not permitted to meet his lawyers in private and that prison officials had tried to prevent him from receiving a copy of a ruling from a United Nations body concerning his detention.
READ MORE: UN Body Rules Tundu Lissu’s Detention Arbitrary, Demands Immediate Release
Citing the prosecution’s move to the higher court, the judges declared their hands were tied and suspended the trial indefinitely.
“The proceedings of this case are stayed until the matter at the Court of Appeal is concluded,” Judge Dunstan Ndunguru announced, bringing the week’s dramatic hearings to an abrupt halt.
