DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – Tanzania’s opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, made his first court appearance in months on Monday, , but the hearing was again adjourned as he challenged the prosecution’s proposal to use shielded witnesses testifying from within a secure enclosure. Lissu has been detained for ten months following his arrest after an opposition rally where he advocated for constitutional and electoral reforms prior to last year’s disputed election.
Lissu, who is representing himself in the case, argued that the penalty for treason is death and that the use of secret witnesses in enclosed cells creates a substantial risk of an unjust outcome. Judges stated they would deliver a decision on his objection on .
The October 2025 general election in Tanzania was followed by days of protests, a nationwide internet shutdown, and reports of hundreds of deaths and thousands of arrests. The unrest marked the first major wave of violence in the East African nation, which has historically been known for its relative peace. President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who secured a second term with over 97% of the vote in an election largely devoid of significant opposition, initially attributed the violence to foreign interference.
President Hassan later apologized to diplomats for the internet shutdown, promising it would not be repeated. She subsequently established a commission of inquiry intended to promote reconciliation, but Chadema, the main opposition party, continues to demand justice for the families of those killed during the protests.
John Heche, Chadema’s deputy party leader, on Monday called for Lissu’s “unconditional release,” alleging that Tanzanian authorities had offered to release him in exchange for his departure from the country. This claim underscores the political pressures surrounding the case and the government’s apparent desire to sideline a prominent critic.
Lissu’s party did not participate in the October election, and he has consistently protested the slow pace of the judicial process, with his case remaining unresolved despite his arrest in . He opted to represent himself in court last year, citing frustration with prison authorities who, he claimed, were obstructing private consultations with his legal counsel.
Lissu is a leading voice among Tanzania’s critics of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which has governed the country since its independence in 1961. He survived an assassination attempt in 2017, sustaining sixteen gunshot wounds, and spent periods in exile before returning to Tanzania in 2023 following changes implemented by President Hassan that aimed to increase political freedoms. His return was intended to campaign for reforms ahead of the 2025 election.
The charges against Lissu stem from a social media video in which he urged citizens to support calls for electoral reforms as a prerequisite for participating in the October general elections. Authorities accuse him of inciting the public to obstruct the election process. He was arrested after speaking at a rally for Chadema’s “No Reform, No Elections” campaign, which was reportedly disrupted by police using excessive force.
The case has drawn international attention, with concerns raised about political repression in Tanzania and the integrity of its electoral system. The United States, which has historically emphasized monitoring election quality globally, has been urged to apply pressure on the Tanzanian government to implement electoral reforms to mitigate potential instability.
Prior to Hassan’s presidency, the late John Magufuli led the CCM party, which had dominated Tanzanian politics since independence. While elections under Magufuli were sometimes considered competitive, opposition parties remained relatively weak. Following the 2020 election, which was widely condemned as flawed, Lissu fled to Belgium. He returned in 2023 after Magufuli’s death and Hassan’s succession, hoping for a more open political environment.
The ongoing postponement of Lissu’s trial, now scheduled for , reflects a pattern of delays and raises further questions about the fairness of the proceedings. The prosecution’s request to allow witnesses to testify behind partitions has also sparked concerns about due process and the transparency of the trial. The court previously postponed the trial for a fifth time on .
The situation remains fluid, with the outcome of Lissu’s case potentially having significant implications for the future of political opposition and democratic governance in Tanzania. The international community will be closely watching the proceedings and assessing the Tanzanian government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process.
