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Tundu Lissu treason trial: Final defense completed

Updated 5 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-24 11:46 UTC → 2026-09-28 18:14 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Tundu Lissu treason trial: Final ~~submissions presented~~ defense completed

The treason trial of CHADEMA Chairman Tundu Lissu in the High Court in Dar es Salaam has moved into ~~the final~~ its concluding stages. Following testimony from 17 prosecution witnesses, a three-judge panel led by Judge Dunstan Ndunguru ruled that the state had provided sufficient evidence for Lissu to have a case to answer. Lissu, who is representing himself, continues to deny all accusations, maintaining that the charges under Section 39(2)(d) of the Penal Code are a political attempt to bar him from the electoral process. During the defense, John Heche, Vice President of CHADEMA’s continental branch, testified as the fifth defense witness, addressing the citizenship status of Lissu’s family and the death of his brother, Suguta Heche. Lissu recently informed the court that the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI), CP Ramadhan Kingai, refused to testify as a defense witness. Lissu claimed Kingai expressed an unwillingness to testify on specific identified areas and indicated that other high-ranking officials, including Inspector General of Police Camillius Wambura and Chief of Defence Forces General Jacob John Mkunda, would also be unwilling to testify. Consequently, Lissu officially closed his defense. In has completed his final ~~submissions, Lissu~~ defense. He argued that the prosecution failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that his political speeches in April 2025 met the legal requirements for ~~treason. He~~ treason under Section 39(2)(d) of the Penal Code. Specifically, Lissu challenged the charge sheet for failing to specify which particular entity or leader of the United Republic of Tanzania was allegedly threatened, maintaining ~~that~~ his rhetoric did not explicitly target the President, the Vice President, or the government. In his defense, Lissu contested several key propositions, including the claim that he convened a specific meeting on April 3, 2025, or that he intended to incite the obstruction of the 2025 election. He also contended that a disputed video was published by Jambo TV staff rather than himself. Furthermore, Lissu requested the court disregard testimony from several prosecution witnesses, alleging their statements were contradictory, false, or driven by ulterior motives regarding religious affiliations and political memberships. Lissu previously informed the court that the Director of Criminal Investigations, CP Ramadhan Kingai, refused to testify, and he officially closed his defense after other high-ranking officials indicated an unwillingness to testify. The ~~trial remains under international scrutiny; if~~ prosecution is scheduled to begin its final submissions on Tuesday, September 29. If convicted, Lissu faces a potential death sentence.

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