Tanzania’s judiciary to livestream Tundu Lissu’s court arraignment

Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu is scheduled to appear in court today, June 2, 2025, at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam, with the judiciary set to broadcast the proceedings live.

“The Judiciary of Tanzania has announced that it will broadcast live court proceedings involving opposition politician and Chadema national chairman Tundu Lissu, whose two criminal cases, No. 8606/2025 and 8607/2025, are scheduled for mention and hearing on Monday, June 2025,” a local publisher reports.

Lissu, the chairman of the opposition party Chadema, faces charges of treason and publishing false information online, stemming from his public calls for electoral reforms ahead of the October 2025 general elections.

The treason charge, which carries a potential death penalty, relates to a speech inciting rebellion and disruption of the electoral process, while the cybercrime charge involves content shared on YouTube, according to a local publication.

The court previously adjourned Lissu’s case on May 19, 2025, after he refused to participate in virtual hearings, insisting on in-person proceedings to ensure transparency.

His legal team, led by Dr. Rugemeleza Nshala, successfully argued for his physical presence in court, reversing an earlier decision for online hearings.

Politically motivated charges

The defence has decried the charges as politically motivated, aimed at silencing dissent before the elections, and has called for greater transparency in the judicial process.

Lissu’s case has received significant attention both within Tanzania and globally. International organisations, including the European Parliament, condemned the arrest. This follows a petition by Lissu’s legal team to the United Nations, urging the body to declare his detention arbitrary.

The judiciary’s decision to broadcast today’s hearing live marks a shift toward openness in a case that has sparked debates over political freedoms in Tanzania.

“We are committed to delivering justice that is open, timely, and accessible to all,” said Gerard Chami, Head of Information, Education, and Communication at Tanzania’s Judiciary.

Lissu, a prominent figure, also survived a 2017 assassination attempt and ran as Chadema’s presidential candidate in 2020.

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