"Restore live broadcast of treason trial", Tanzania High Court urged

DAR ES SALAAM,  Tanzania 

The President of the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), Advocate Boniface Mwabukusi, has called on the Tanzania Court to consider restoring live broadcasts of the treason trial against Chief opposition leader,  Tundu Lissu.

TLS President,  Advocate Boniface Mwabukusi 

The national chairman of the main opposition party (CHADEMA), faces charges of treason and three counts of publishing false information under cybercrime laws. 

The charges relate to speeches he made during his party’s No Reforms, No Elections campaign, which called for electoral system changes ahead of the October 29 polls. 

If convicted of treason, he could face the death penalty.

In his call, Mwabukusi said the live broadcast  will provide an opportunity for the public to follow what is happening in Court.

Speaking to journalists on the outskirts of the High Court in Dar es Salaam today, Wednesday September 10, 2025, Mwabukusi said that when the commital trial was broadcast live at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court, the complaints of citizens were significantly reduced.

"The court started well in broadcasting live in the initial stages, it is our opinion that it should not go back to the dark and prevent the live broadcast of this important case at this digital era." He said. 

The TLS insisted that the court should strive to be consistent when it does good things, especially to ensure transparency in the conduct of the case, perhaps in a few cases requiring security confidentiality for witnesses who are discussing internal matters regarding the security institutions and not ordinary evidence.

Mwabukusi's statement comes at a time when CHADEMA leaders and members are complaining about being 'tricked' and barred from entering the Court premises to follow their leader's trial session.

The case has attracted significant attention on social media, with detailed accounts of the proceedings being shared on platforms like X (formerly Twitter). 

Tundu Lissu, in one of Court appearances 

Several users provided extensive real-time coverage of the court session, which generated thousands of views and widespread discussion online.

The social media coverage has effectively circumvented the court’s media restrictions, ensuring that the public remains informed about the proceedings despite official attempts to limit coverage.

The 56-year-old politician, who survived an assassination attempt in 2017 and came second in Tanzania’s 2020 presidential election, was arrested in April while conducting public rallies in southern Tanzania.

His party, CHADEMA, was subsequently barred from participating in the upcoming election after refusing to sign what officials called an electoral code of conduct.