Lissu: I am on trial for fighting for a new Constitution

Dar es Salaam. Chadema chairman Tundu Lissu has told the High Court in Dar es Salaam that the treason case against him stems from his long-running campaign for a new Constitution, the rule of law and electoral reforms.

Lissu, 59, made the remarks on Friday, August 21, 2026, when he began giving evidence in his defence after a three-judge panel ruled that he had a case to answer.

The panel, comprising Justices Dunstan Ndunguru, James Karayemaha and Ferdinand Kiwonde, is hearing a case in which Lissu is charged with treason under Section 39(2)(d) of the Penal Code, Revised Edition 2023.

The charge relates to remarks he allegedly made at Chadema headquarters in Dar es Salaam on April 3, 2025, in which he called for the 2025 General Election to be stopped.

Prosecutors allege that Lissu, with seditious intent, incited the public to prevent the election by making statements calling for pressure to be exerted on the country's leadership.

Giving evidence as the first defence witness, Lissu, who is representing himself, began by outlining his political and professional background, saying it was important for the court to understand the person behind the charge.

He told the court that his political career had been closely linked to his campaign for a new Constitution and a more independent electoral system.

Lissu said he served as a member of the Constituent Assembly between 2011 and 2014, where he advocated for constitutional reforms.

He also recounted the 2017 shooting in which he was seriously wounded by unknown assailants and his subsequent removal from Parliament after being accused of prolonged absenteeism.

He argued that his long-standing advocacy for constitutional and electoral reforms was central to understanding the case against him.

‘I am a respected person’

Lissu also outlined his professional credentials, including his time as president of the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) and his current position as vice-chairman of the World Federation of Democratic Youth, representing Africa.

“I am a person of integrity. I am respected in this country and internationally. The respect I have earned is because of my position in fighting for democracy and the rule of law,” he told the judges.

He also cited international awards and recognition he said he had received for his work promoting democracy and good governance.

Lissu further told the court that several local, regional and international organisations had described the charges against him as politically motivated.

He cited statements from the Commonwealth, European Union and other international institutions, claiming that the United Nations had called for his release and compensation.

He also alleged that the United States and European Union had taken measures against Tanzania over his case.

Election experience

Turning to the treason charge, Lissu said his extensive experience in electoral matters was relevant to his defence.

He said he first voted in 1985 and had participated in subsequent elections either as a voter or candidate, except in the 2000 General Election and the 2025 election, when he was in custody.

He recalled that in the first multiparty General Election in 1995, he interrupted his studies in Britain and returned to Tanzania to contest the Singida South parliamentary seat.

Lissu said he had also participated in elections as a lawyer and conducted extensive research on Tanzania's electoral system.

He claimed to have greater expertise in electoral law than many lawyers and said some High Court and Court of Appeal judges had learnt aspects of electoral law from him.

He told the court that he had intended to publish a book on Tanzania's electoral system and what he described as its manipulation, but that his detention had prevented him from doing so.

Lissu's evidence will continue on Monday, August 24, 2026, when the case resumes.