Tanzania opposition leader and CHADEMA chairman Tundu Lissu gestures to supporters from the dock at the High Court in Dar es Salaam
By Metro News Reporter
A Tanzanian court has acquitted opposition leader Tundu Lissu of treason but found him guilty of the lesser offence of incitement, bringing a major development in a politically charged case that has kept him in detention for more than 18 months.
The High Court in Dar es Salaam delivered the ruling on Friday, November 6, 2026, following a lengthy trial involving the chairman of Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), Tanzania’s main opposition party.
In its judgment, the court found that prosecutors had failed to establish a key element of the treason charge: that Lissu intended to intimidate the government. The prosecution was required to prove that he intended to threaten the government and demonstrated that intention through publications or other actions.
The case arose from remarks Lissu made at CHADEMA’s headquarters in Dar es Salaam on April 3, 2025. Prosecutors accused him of urging supporters to prevent the country’s general election from taking place and mobilise rebellion against the government.
Lissu denied the allegations, maintaining that his statements did not constitute a criminal offence and arguing that the charges were politically motivated.
He was arrested on April 9, 2025, and formally charged with treason the following day. The offence carries the death penalty under Tanzanian law.
The prosecution called 17 witnesses during the trial, while the defence presented five witnesses. State attorneys maintained that the evidence established Lissu’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt, while the opposition leader argued that the prosecution had failed to substantiate its case.
The case unfolded against a backdrop of mounting political tensions in Tanzania following the October 2025 general election. Lissu’s arrest and the disqualification of CHADEMA from the polls contributed to widespread protests and unrest across the country.
Hundreds of people died during the post-election violence, which significantly challenged Tanzania’s longstanding reputation for political stability. A commission appointed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan reported in April that at least 518 people had been killed, attributing the deaths to protesters. The government, however, rejected allegations by human rights organisations that security forces had used excessive force.
Lissu’s acquittal on the treason charge marks a significant turn in the high-profile prosecution, although his conviction on the incitement charge leaves a separate legal outcome to be addressed.
