By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Tanzania’s main opposition leader appeared in court on Monday for the first time since his arrest last month on alleged treason charges, urging his supporters not to be afraid.
Tundu Lissu raised his fist in a gesture of defiance and told his supporters: “You will be fine. You should not fear.”
Tension was high in the country’s largest city, Dar es Salaam, where there was a heavy presence of security personnel, especially at the magistrate’s court where Lissu appeared, and across strategic locations in the city.
Despite the heavy deployment of armed security officers, Lissu’s supporters turned out in large numbers, gathering outside the court premises.
Lissu and his legal team had objected to the court’s earlier attempts to conduct the hearings virtually, citing the need for transparency and due process.
The CHADEMA party leader was arrested on 9 April following his “No Reforms, No Election” campaign, during which he told supporters that the general elections expected in October should not proceed without electoral reforms to enhance transparency.
He has since been charged with treason and publishing false information online, allegedly inciting rebellion.
He is also accused of sending out messages accusing the police of electoral misconduct, but he denies the allegations.
If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
In what activists have described as a move to suppress political competition, the Independent National Electoral Commission announced the disqualification of the CHADEMA party from the upcoming election.
The electoral body accused the party of refusing to sign the mandatory code of conduct. The ban will remain in effect for all by-elections until 2030.
