The High Court of Tanzania has sentenced Chadema national chairman Tundu Lissu to four years in prison for incitement, after acquitting him of treason. The verdict has triggered mixed reactions across Tanzania. Lissu was arrested on April 9, 2025, in Mbinga District, Ruvuma Region, and appeared before the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court in Dar es Salaam the following day. He was charged with treason under Section 39(2)(d) of the Penal Code for allegedly making statements during an interview with Jambo TV.
The prosecution alleged that Lissu committed the offence on April 3, 2025, in Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam, while under oath of allegiance to the United Republic of Tanzania and within its territory. The charge sheet cited statements that Lissu would prevent the 2025 General Election, mobilise rebellion, and disrupt the electoral process to force political change. Lissu denied the charge. The case was heard by a three-judge panel at the High Court's Dar es Salaam Sub-Registry, with 17 prosecution witnesses and five defence witnesses, including Lissu himself.
The first prosecution witness, Assistant Commissioner of Police George Bagyemu, testified that on April 4, 2025, he was shown a video from Jambo TV's YouTube channel by the second prosecution witness. The footage showed Lissu discussing the 2025 General Election and making statements containing references to disruption and rebellion. Bagyemu interpreted the remarks as indicating an intention to mobilise rebellion, prevent the election, and cause serious disruption.
Bagyemu ordered preliminary investigations to establish whether the video was authentic and whether it had been recorded and published by Jambo TV. On April 6, 2025, he contacted the television station's management, which confirmed that the footage was genuine and had been recorded by a Jambo TV employee. The employee later testified as a protected witness.
The second prosecution witness, Police Inspector John Kaaya, told the court that on April 4, 2025, while conducting routine online surveillance, he came across a video published on Jambo TV's YouTube channel. The video was titled "Tundu Lissu face-to-face with parliamentary aspirants. No reforms, no election." Kaaya identified statements that, in his assessment, suggested criminal intentions.
Kaaya cited remarks concerning preventing the election, mobilising rebellion, and causing serious disruption, particularly Lissu's reference to the position that there would be no election without reforms. He interpreted the statements as indicating an intention to obstruct the electoral process and threaten the government.
The court found Lissu not guilty of treason but convicted him of the lesser offence of incitement, for which he was sentenced to four years in prison. The judgment was delivered on November 6, 2026, after the prosecution and defence presented their cases.
Key points
- Lissu sentenced to 4 years in prison for incitement
- acquitted of treason charge
- case sparked mixed reactions across Tanzania
