Treason charges against Tanzania’s opposition leader are steeped in controversy after the court tried to have the case handled virtually, while on the other hand chaos ensued in the Dar-es-salaam city
As the Kisutu Resident Magistrate Court was to start hearing the ‘treason’ and ‘incitement,’ charges against the chairperson of the Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo, Advocate Tundu Lissu, on 24th of April 2025.
From the early hours of the misty morning however there has been mayhem in the coastal City.
The Secretary General of the Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) Party, John Mnyika and other party members were arrested at the Fire Road Junction while driving towards the court to follow up on the case proceedings.
One of the CHADEMA officials, Godbless Lema, reported later that the court decided that the charges facing Lissu will now be read virtually.
The first case, Number 202504102000008606 on treason charges pits the Republic against Tundu Antiphas Lissu and appears before the Resident Magistrate Geofrey Mhini.
The second charges of incitement in case number 202504102000008607 get read before Magistrate Franco Kiswaga.
However, other reports say the accused, Tundu Lissu has refused to have his charges read virtually insisting that he wants live court proceedings and therefore was taken to court later.
The leader of the Kenya’s People Liberation Party (PLP) Martha Karua, travelled all the way from Nairobi to attend Tundu Lissu’s case proceedings as a gesture of solidarity.
On the other hand, Bishop Emmaus Bandekile Mwamakula, who is the Head of the Moravian Church of Revival in Tanzania and East Africa and Co-Chairman of the Moravian Revival Churches in the World said was previously barred from entering the court premises in Dar.
“I arrived there and found the police beating up people mercilessly,” writes Bishop Mwamakula.’
According to the church leader, several were hurt in the fracas including one person, Noel Hema who was bleeding profusely.
“As I was at the gates, a lawyer known as Dickson Matata wanted me to take the injured Noel Hema to hospital in my car, but the police refused and instead bundled him in their truck,” said Bishop Mwamakula.