Dar es Salaam. The High Court of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam Sub-Registry, has directed respondents in an application filed by Chadema Chairman Tundu Lissu to file their responses within seven days, ahead of a hearing scheduled for June 2, 2026.
Mr Lissu, who is currently in remand custody facing treason charges, is seeking to be joined in an ongoing civil suit involving a dispute over the distribution of party resources and alleged discrimination between Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
The main case, Civil Case No. 8323 of 2025, was filed by Chadema’s former vice chairman, Mr Said Issa Mohamed, together with two members of the party’s Board of Trustees from Zanzibar, Mr Ahmed Rashid Khamis and the late Ms Maulida Anna Komu.
The defendants are Chadema’s Board of Trustees and the party’s Secretary-General.
In Miscellaneous Civil Cause No. 12194 of 2026, Mr Lissu argues that he should be joined in the proceedings in his capacity as national chairman, saying he has a direct interest in the outcome of the dispute.
The matter was mentioned before the court on Monday, May 25, 2026. Counsel for the first to third respondents, Mr Shabani Marijani, told the court they had not been formally served with the application documents.
He said they only became aware of the case through social media on Sunday, before later confirming it on the Judiciary’s electronic filing system.
“We therefore request 14 days to file a replying affidavit in accordance with the law,” he submitted.
However, Mr Lissu’s legal team, together with counsel for the fourth and fifth respondents, led by Chadema principal legal counsel, Dr Rugemeleza Nshala, opposed the request and urged the court to shorten the timeline to avoid delays.
High Court Judge David Ngunyale partially agreed, granting respondents seven days to file their replying affidavits by May 31, 2026.
“The matter will be heard on June 2, 2026,” ruled Justice Ngunyale.
However, the hearing will depend on the outcome of a preliminary objection raised in the main suit, in which the defendants argue the case is defective for failing to specify when the alleged violations began.
The ruling on the objection is expected on May 28, 2026, and will determine whether the proceedings continue or collapse.
If the objection succeeds, the main case will be struck out, automatically rendering Mr Lissu’s application moot.
If it is dismissed, both the main suit and the application will proceed.
This is the second time Mr Lissu has sought to join the case. His earlier application, filed in his personal capacity, was dismissed on April 30, 2026.
In that ruling, Deputy Registrar Hussein Mushi, reading a decision by Justice Hamidu Mwanga, held that Mr Lissu had failed to demonstrate sufficient personal interest to justify joinder.
The court said the interest he relied on was purely representative, arising from his position as party chairman, which is not tied to a single individual.
Following that ruling, Mr Lissu filed a fresh application, this time explicitly in his capacity as Chadema chairman.
In the substantive suit, the plaintiffs allege unequal distribution of party assets and resources between Zanzibar and Mainland Tanzania, contrary to the Political Parties Act and Chadema’s constitution.
They also accuse the party of religious and gender discrimination, as well as making statements that could undermine the Union.
They are seeking declarations that Chadema violated sections 6A(1), (2), and (5) of the Political Parties Act, and that its management of funds, assets, and resources is unlawful.
They further seek orders suspending the party’s political activities until court directives are complied with, as well as an injunction restraining the use of party assets pending resolution of the dispute.
