Heche Tells Court Lissu’s Disputed April Speech Repeated CHADEMA’s Election

Dar es Salaam — CHADEMA vice-chairperson (Mainland) John Heche told the High Court on Friday that the April 3, 2025 speech at the centre of Tundu Lissu’s treason trial repeated the party’s wider No Reforms, No Election campaign, which he said had been presented to religious leaders, editors, civil-society organisations, diplomats and the public.

Heche said the CHADEMA secretariat, rather than Lissu, organised the meeting for party nomination aspirants at its Mikocheni headquarters and invited the other attendees, including journalists. He said Lissu and he were travelling on party business when the arrangements were made.

The evidence is material to the prosecution allegation that Lissu convened the meeting and published words through Jambo TV with intent to threaten the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania.