In a major victory for Tanzania’s opposition, the High Court in Dar es Salaam has ruled in favour of CHADEMA leader Tundu Lissu in his ongoing treason case, rejecting a key piece of evidence presented by state prosecutors.
The prosecution had relied on a video clip stored on a flash drive, allegedly showing Lissu making inciting remarks against the government ahead of the 2025 general elections. However, Lissu’s legal team argued that the video was illegally obtained and presented by an unqualified witness — a claim the court agreed with.
Legal analysts say the ruling is a big blow to the state’s case, as the rejected footage was one of the main pillars of the prosecution’s argument. “This shows that due process must be followed, even in politically sensitive cases,” said one Dar es Salaam-based lawyer.
Lissu, a long-time critic of the government, was arrested in April over remarks calling for electoral reforms — charges that human rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have described as politically motivated.
Outside the courtroom, dozens of CHADEMA supporters celebrated the ruling, chanting Lissu’s name and calling for justice. “We just want fairness,” one supporter told The Citizen Tanzania.
The case has drawn widespread attention both locally and internationally, with observers warning that it could test the independence of Tanzania’s judiciary ahead of the upcoming polls.
By TheChanzo