Tanzania: Tundu Lissu Says Someone Must Pay for 166-Day Delay in His Treason Trial

Tanzania’s opposition leader Tundu Lissu has accused Tanzania’s prosecution of delaying his treason trial by taking the case to the Court of Appeal, saying someone must ultimately be held accountable for the 166 days lost during the legal proceedings.

Lissu made the remarks on Monday, August 10, 2026, as his treason trial resumed before a three-judge panel of the High Court’s Dar es Salaam Sub-Registry, led by Justice Dunstan Ndunguru.

The case had been held up since February 24, 2026, after the prosecution filed an application for review before the Court of Appeal.

Lissu said the proceedings had now lost 166 days while the matter was before the appellate court, arguing that the delay had unnecessarily prolonged the case.

“Today, judges, it is the 166th day since February 24, 2026. They went to the Court of Appeal. I defeated them, but we have returned after wasting 166 days,” Lissu said.

He added that although the trial should continue, there would eventually have to be accountability for what he described as an unnecessary delay.

“At some point we will have to talk about this useless case and this unnecessary delay caused by the lawyers and whoever sends them. Someone has to pay for this,” he said.

The prosecution rejected Lissu’s characterization of the delay.

State Attorney General Nassoro Katuga said it was incorrect to suggest that the prosecution had deliberately sought to postpone the proceedings.

Katuga explained that the Director of Public Prosecutions had exercised a legal right to seek a review from the Court of Appeal after the prosecution believed that some aspects of the case had not been correctly determined by the judges.

“It was not the intention of the Republic to delay the case. As for winning and losing, losing is a normal thing for a competent lawyer,” Katuga said.

Following the exchange, Justice Ndunguru directed that the trial proceed.

The court subsequently resumed hearing evidence from prosecution witness Assistant Commissioner of Police Amini Mahamba, who continued giving testimony in the case.

Lissu faces treason charges before the High Court, in a case that has attracted significant public and political attention in Tanzania.

Monday’s proceedings marked the latest stage of the case after the lengthy interruption caused by the proceedings before the Court of Appeal, with both sides now returning to the substantive hearing before the High Court.