Politics
Tanzania court rules opposition leader has case to answer in treason trial
Lissu, head of the opposition Chadema party, was detained in April 2025 and charged with treason, which carries a potential death penalty, for allegedly inciting the public to boycott the elections.
Tanzania's main opposition leader Tundu Lissu (C) gestures to supporters as he arrives at the High Court to attend a hearing on whether he has a case to answer in his treason trial, in Dar es Salaam on August 21, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
By: AFP ., Journalist @New Vision
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DAR ES SALAAM — A Tanzanian court on Friday ruled that the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu will go ahead after finding that he has a case to answer.
Tanzania has faced international criticism after the bloody repression of protests around elections last November, with the opposition and rights groups saying thousands were killed by security forces.
Lissu, head of the opposition Chadema party, was detained in April 2025 and charged with treason, which carries a potential death penalty, for allegedly inciting the public to boycott the elections.
At the time, his party was leading an election reform campaign dubbed "No Reforms, No Elections".
Lissu, head of the opposition Chadema party, was detained in April 2025 and charged with treason, which carries a potential death penalty, for allegedly inciting the public to boycott the elections.
At the time, his party was leading an election reform campaign dubbed "No Reforms, No Elections".
"The court rules that the prosecution established a case which the accused needs to answer," said judge Dunstan Ndunguru.
The ruling by a three-judge bench came days after prosecutors presented evidence and 17 witnesses testified against Lissu.
Lissu, who returned to Tanzania from exile in 2023, has faced multiple arrests over the years and survived an assassination attempt in 2017.
The ruling by a three-judge bench came days after prosecutors presented evidence and 17 witnesses testified against Lissu.
Lissu, who returned to Tanzania from exile in 2023, has faced multiple arrests over the years and survived an assassination attempt in 2017.