Chadema National Chairman Tundu Lissu has told the High Court in Dar es Salaam that the court's verdict in his treason case will set a historic legal precedent. Lissu made the statement on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, as he began presenting his final submissions after the conclusion of defence evidence. He urged the panel to deliver its verdict with courage, without bias, and in accordance with the oaths taken by judges. Lissu's statement comes as he seeks to persuade the court that he is not guilty of the charge against him.
Lissu faces a treason charge over allegations that on April 3, 2025, he acted with seditious intent by persuading the public to prevent the holding of the 2025 General Election. He allegedly made utterances and online publications intended to pressure the country's top leader. According to the prosecution, Lissu said, "They are saying one thing here; this stance signifies rebellion, it is true..., because we are saying we will prevent the election, we will incite rebellion, that is the way to get change... so we are going to rock it... Most importantly, we will disrupt this election thoroughly... we are going to rock it very badly."
A three-judge panel comprising Dunstan Ndunguru, James Karayemaha, and Ferdinand Kiwonde is hearing the case. Lissu told the court that he had never hidden or denied uttering the words forming the basis of the charges against him. He said that on August 18, 2025, he told the Committal Court at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court in Dar es Salaam that he had indeed spoken the words, and not just once, but repeated them in various regions.
Lissu's defence has never been that he was ashamed of making the statements, but he maintains that what he said constitutes neither treason nor any other criminal offence under Tanzanian law. He added that after hearing evidence from 17 prosecution witnesses and 16 defence exhibits, with the prosecution producing no exhibits, he believes the prosecution case is now weaker than when it was filed.
Lissu pointed out that the case against him is the third treason case filed under Section 39 of the Penal Code in Tanzania's 65-year history. The two previous cases were those of Grey Likungu Mataka and others in 1970 and Hatibu Gandhi and others in 1983, which were filed under Section 39(2)(a), (b), and (c), concerning attempts to overthrow the Government and kill the President.
Unlike the previous cases, Lissu's case has been filed under Section 39(2)(d), which concerns threatening the Government rather than an attempt to overthrow the Government or kill the President. On that basis, Lissu said his case is the first treason case not involving allegations of an attempt to overthrow the Government, and that the decision will set a precedent for how similar cases are handled by courts in the coming years.
Lissu emphasised that the weight of the judgment will not lie only in convicting or acquitting him, but also in establishing a legal foundation that could be followed by courts for many years to come. He expressed his hope that the judges will bear that heavy historical weight without bias, with courage, and with the dignity carried by their judicial oaths.
Key points
- Lissu's case is the first treason case in Tanzania not involving allegations of an attempt to overthrow the Government.
- The court's verdict is expected to set a historic legal precedent.
- Lissu faces a treason charge over alleged seditious intent related to his statements about preventing the 2025 General Election.
