Golugwa tells Lissu to answer a courtroom question himself

A defense witness in Tundu Lissu’s treason trial told the court that Lissu himself should answer a question about remarks allegedly made in a speech.

Amani Golugwa, Chadema’s deputy secretary-general, made the request on Monday, September 7, 2026, while answering questions from Senior State Attorney Nassoro Katuga. Golugwa said Lissu should be asked whether he had ever said that judges were “ma-CCM”, meaning members of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi party.

The case is being heard by a three-judge panel at the High Court’s Dar es Salaam registry. Dunstan Ndunguru leads the panel, alongside James Karayemaha and Ferdinand Kiwonde. The proceedings are currently at the defense stage.

“

There is no way those words can threaten the government and its security organs, because the government was not mentioned anywhere, nor were the country’s top leaders and security organs.

Lissu, who is also a lawyer, faces treason charges under Section 39(2)(d) of Tanzania’s 2023 Penal Code. Prosecutors allege that on April 3, 2025, he encouraged the public to prevent the 2025 general election and used spoken and online statements to pressure Tanzania’s top government leader.

Golugwa has argued in his main testimony that Lissu’s words did not amount to treason. He said the remarks could not threaten the government or state security institutions because they did not mention the government, national leaders, or those institutions. He also argued that one person cannot commit treason and described the case as fabricated and aimed at weakening Lissu’s campaign for electoral-system changes. Prosecutors began cross-examining Golugwa last Thursday, and the questioning continued on Monday.

“

The case is fabricated and is intended to weaken Lissu’s movement to fight for changes to the electoral system in the country.