Defence Witness Concedes Lissu Wanted Speech Public and Aimed to Press Government on Election Reforms
A CHADEMA official testified in Tundu Lissu's treason trial, confirming that Lissu intended for his speech to reach the public to pressure the government on electoral reforms. The defense maintains that the dissemination of the speech was handled independently by media outlets rather than by Lissu himself.
Why it matters
The case highlights the intersection of political dissent, freedom of speech, and the legal boundaries of treason charges in Tanzania.
Dar es Salaam — A CHADEMA leader testifying for Tundu Lissu accepted on Friday that the party chairperson wanted his April 3, 2025 speech to reach Tanzanians and that its purpose was to press the government to make legal changes to the electoral system, as the prosecution continued to test the defence account in Lissu’s treason trial.
Amani Golugwa, CHADEMA’s deputy secretary general for Mainland Tanzania, also agreed that Lissu used forceful and persuasive language. But he maintained that journalists, including those from Jambo TV and The Chanzo , independently decided whether to livestream and publish the address, and that Lissu did not himself disseminate the words on which the prosecution relies.
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