In brief
The High Court in Dar Es Salaam convicted Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu of incitement, sentencing him to four years in prison. The case followed a prolonged treason trial that ended when the court found the prosecution could not prove intent to intimidate the government. Heavy police presence surrounded the courtroom amid public and party gatherings.
In Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania's High Court sentenced opposition leader Tundu Lissu to four years in prison on Friday after a 576‑day treason trial was closed with a conviction for incitement. The ruling followed an earlier acquittal on the treason charge, as the court determined the prosecution failed to prove Lissu intended to intimidate the government through his statements.
Police deployed heavy security around the Posta and Kisutu areas of the capital, with armed officers patrolling major roads and holding positions on routes leading to the court premises. Reinforcements were also posted at key junctions such as Ubungo, Mwenge and Buguruni, and at Bus Rapid Transit stations, as the sentence was announced. Despite the tight security, members of the public and supporters of the opposition party CHADEMA gathered outside the courthouse, while traffic remained orderly.
Judge Dunstan Ndunguru read the judgement, noting that Section 319 of the Criminal Procedure Act empowers courts to convict an accused of a lesser offence even when it was not separately included in the charge. He said the court had considered evidence from both the prosecution and defence before concluding that Lissu’s statements urging the public to prevent and disrupt the 2025 general election amounted to incitement. The proceedings saw 17 prosecution witnesses testify, while Lissu himself had testified, acknowledging that he had made the statements but arguing they were legitimate political discourse rather than treasonous conduct.
According to the judge, the prosecution’s witnesses claimed that Lissu’s remarks influenced them to participate in activities aimed at disrupting the election. The court therefore found him guilty of the lesser offence of incitement under Section 390 of the Penal Code.
Judge Ndunguru said, “The court is satisfied that, under Section 319 of the CPA, the accused committed the lesser offence of incitement under Section 390 of the Penal Code.”
Lissu was first arrested on April 9, 2025, in Mbinga District of the Ruvuma Region and has remained in custody throughout the proceedings, as treason is a non‑bailable offence under Tanzanian law. The case ended with the criminal conviction for incitement, carrying a minimum four‑year term in jail.
