Prosecution Tests Heche’s Evidence as CHADEMA Vice

Dar es Salaam — The prosecution on Monday challenged the basis of wide-ranging evidence given by CHADEMA vice-chairperson (Mainland) John Heche in Tundu Lissu’s treason trial, drawing admissions that he did not personally witness most of the alleged killings, disappearances and abductions he had described to the High Court.

Heche, the fifth defence witness, said he had not seen the alleged killings of Msafiri Mbwambo in Arumeru or Nyatega Wenje in Rorya, had not attended post-mortems in the matters he raised, and had never witnessed anyone being abducted or disappearing.

The cross-examination is significant because Lissu has used Heche’s evidence to argue that his April 3, 2025 call for electoral reform emerged from a history of alleged repression, violence and electoral malpractice, rather than an intention to commit treason.