Tanzania opposition chief Tundu Lissu's treason case resumes after five-month pause

Tundu Lissu, the head of Tanzania's opposition Chadema, saw his treason trial resume on Monday after a five-month halt caused by procedural challenges. The interruption began on February 24 when prosecutors objected to additional evidence, and the High Court suspended the case until the Court of Appeal dismissed the challenge on July 30. Detained since April 2025, Lissu told onlookers outside the Dar es Salaam courthouse that the authorities were seeking to waste time to keep him in custody.

He added that accountability would eventually be demanded. Chadema spokesperson Brenda Rupia called the hearing a critical moment for Lissu's liberty and a barometer of Tanzania's commitment to democracy, rule of law, and political freedoms. The party argues the prosecution is being used to suppress legitimate opposition and weaken democratic participation. Lissu, who survived an assassination attempt in 2023, faces a treason charge that carries the possibility of the death penalty, a charge his party says reflects a return to repressive tactics reminiscent of former President John Magufuli.