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🇹🇿 Tanzania /Elections & Politics

State concludes cross-examination of Chadema deputy secretary-general in Lissu treason trial

From Mwananchi · () Swahili

Translated from Swahili and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • Prosecutors completed their questioning of Amani Golugwa, Chadema’s mainland deputy secretary-general and the third defense witness in Tundu Lissu’s treason trial.
  • Golugwa testified that Lissu’s statements about disrupting the 2025 election did not amount to treason and could not threaten the government.
  • The case is being heard by a three-judge High Court panel in Dar es Salaam, with the defense phase continuing.

The prosecution has finished questioning Amani Golugwa, Chadema’s deputy secretary-general for mainland Tanzania, after three days of cross-examination in Tundu Lissu’s treason trial. Golugwa spent four days in the witness box defending Lissu before completing his evidence on Monday, September 7, 2026.

Golugwa began his main testimony on September 2, led by Lissu, who is also one of the lawyers in the case. Prosecutors began their questioning the following day and concluded it after asking about the events surrounding the 2025 election.

Lissu is accused of treason under Section 39(2)(d) of Tanzania’s Penal Code. Prosecutors allege that on April 3, 2025, he encouraged the public to prevent the general election through statements and online posts directed at the country’s top government leader.

They say one thing here, this position suggests rebellion, it is true..., because we say we will prevent the election, we will encourage rebellion, that is how to bring change..., so we are going to make trouble..., especially this election, we are really going to disrupt it..., we are going to make very serious trouble...

· Tundu LissuThese remarks form the basis of the treason allegation against Lissu.

The prosecution cited remarks in which Lissu allegedly said: “They say one thing here, this position suggests rebellion, it is true..., because we say we will prevent the election, we will encourage rebellion, that is how to bring change..., so we are going to make trouble..., especially this election, we are really going to disrupt it..., we are going to make very serious trouble...”

Golugwa rejected the allegation in his testimony. He said the remarks did not constitute treason because they did not mention the government, national leaders or state security organs. He also argued that one person could not commit treason and described the case as fabricated and intended to weaken Lissu’s campaign for electoral-system reform. The trial is being heard by a three-judge High Court panel in Dar es Salaam, led by Justice Dunstan Ndunguru alongside James Karayemaha and Ferdinand Kiwonde.

There is no way those words could threaten the government and its security organs.

· Amani GolugwaGolugwa argued that Lissu’s statements did not amount to treason.
About this summary

Originally published by Mwananchi in Swahili. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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