Tanzania’s High Court cleared opposition leader Tundu Lissu of treason on 6 November but convicted him of incitement and jailed him for four years, a sentence now under appeal.
The ruling removes the risk of the death penalty that treason carries, but keeps the chairman of the main opposition party, Chadema, in custody ahead of a Court of Appeal challenge, a year after the disputed October 2025 election.
What did the court decide about Tundu Lissu?
A three-judge panel acquitted Tundu Lissu, 58, of treason and found him guilty of incitement over remarks at an April 2025 rally in Dar es Salaam, according to Human Rights Watch. Prosecutors said he told supporters the opposition would “block the election” and “mobilise rebellion”, Reuters reported. Tundu Lissu pleaded not guilty and argued that his speech broke no law.
The court noted that he is a first offender with diabetes, The Chanzo reported. It nonetheless chose prison over a fine, saying his statements encouraged disruption of the election and infringed other people’s right to vote. He has spent 577 days on remand, The Citizen reported.
What is the background to the case?
Tundu Lissu was arrested on 9 April 2025 and had been held without bail since, according to Human Rights Watch. His detention and the disqualification of Chadema from the vote were among the triggers of unrest during the October 2025 election, Reuters said. The same report said hundreds of people died when police fired on protesters in several cities.
A commission appointed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan said in April that at least 518 people were killed and blamed the violence on protesters. The government denies that security forces used excessive force and has dismissed accusations of a crackdown on dissent, Reuters reported. The president was declared the winner with nearly 98% of the vote.
Earlier DNE Africa reporting covers the original treason charge and the African Union’s assessment of the 2025 vote.
How will the Tundu Lissu appeal proceed?
Tundu Lissu’s notice of appeal against the conviction and the sentence is dated 7 November and was filed on 9 November, The Chanzo reported. He argues that his remarks sought constitutional and electoral reforms rather than the intimidation of the government. He also asked the court for bail pending appeal, including to attend his brother’s funeral; no grant of bail was reported.
Chadema’s chief legal counsel, Rugemeleza Nshala, said incitement is a bailable offence even after conviction, according to The Citizen. We did not find a government or prosecution statement on the verdict or the appeal. Attorney General Nassoro Katuga had earlier told the court that prosecutors believed they had proved the charge beyond reasonable doubt.
How have governments and rights groups reacted?
The European Union said it was following the case closely and recalled a finding by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention that Tundu Lissu’s detention lacked sufficient legal basis, Kenyans.co.ke reported. David McAllister, chair of the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee, called the conviction a disproportionate restriction on free expression. Amnesty International described it as a travesty of justice.
Chadema says the case is politically motivated. The government rejects that view of the wider unrest.
What happens next?
The Court of Appeal has to schedule a hearing, and any decision on bail would come first. Tundu Lissu survived being shot 16 times in 2017 and finished second in the 2020 presidential election, Reuters noted. The outcome will shape Tanzania’s ties with Western partners and the prospects for talks with Chadema.
FAQ
What is Tundu Lissu’s sentence?
Tanzania’s High Court sentenced Tundu Lissu to four years in prison for incitement on 6 November 2026. It acquitted him of treason, which carries the death penalty.
Has Tundu Lissu appealed the sentence?
Yes. His notice of appeal against the conviction and the sentence was filed on 9 November, according to The Chanzo.
Why was Tundu Lissu prosecuted?
Prosecutors said remarks at an April 2025 rally were meant to obstruct the October 2025 election. Lissu says he was calling for electoral reform.
Can Tundu Lissu be released on bail?
He requested bail pending appeal. Chadema’s lawyer says incitement is bailable after conviction, but no grant was reported.
