In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the key opposition figure was granted the right to defend himself in his ongoing treason case. This development followed actions by prison officials that restricted him from having private meetings with his legal team.
Tundu Lissu, taken into custody on April 9th, faces treason charges after he addressed a gathering advocating for necessary electoral reforms, with national elections looming in October. His political movement, the Chadema party, has consistently criticized the lack of an autonomous electoral body while pointing out biases within current laws that benefit the ruling CCM party, which has maintained its hold on power since the country’s independence in 1961.
Lissu, who survived an assassination attempt during which he was shot 16 times in 2017, spoke out during the court proceedings. He explained how he was compelled to communicate with his attorneys via phone in a cramped space, voicing concerns over potential eavesdropping or recording of their discussions.
“I have over 30 lawyers whom I deeply trust. Today marks the 68th day since my arrest on treason charges, yet my legal team continues to be denied private consultations,” Lissu lamented.
Chief Magistrate Franco Kiswaga permitted Lissu to personally interact with the prosecution unless he opts for alternative representation in the future. Kiswaga pressed the prosecution to accelerate their investigation and assigned July 1st as the potential hearing date.
Lissu also raised issues about other fundamental rights he felt were denied, including religious practices. Furthermore, he claimed he was unjustly held in an area of the detention center designated for death row inmates, even without having been found guilty.
Human rights organizations have criticized the Tanzanian government, led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, for allegedly adopting harsh measures against opposition parties. However, the government refutes these allegations.