Lissu Names Samia, Senior Officials as Defence Witnesses

The High Court of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam Registry, has ruled that CHADEMA Chairman Tundu Lissu has a case to answer in the treason charges facing him, paving the way for the defence stage of the trial.

In a ruling read by Justice Dunstan Ndunguru, the court said it had reviewed the evidence presented by the prosecution and was satisfied that Lissu had a case to answer. He was subsequently required to identify witnesses he intends to call in his defence.

Lissu named President Samia Suluhu Hassan as his first defence witness, followed by senior government officials, security officials and leaders of CHADEMA.

“First witness is Samia Suluhu Hassan. She is the Chief Executive of the government that is alleged to have been threatened by my words,” Lissu told the court.

He named former Vice-President Philip Isdor Mpango as his second witness, saying the defence believes he has important evidence that could assist the court.

His third proposed witness is former Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa, whom Lissu described as a former member of the National Security Council.

Lissu also named Inspector General of Police Camillus Wambura as his fourth witness, describing him as the head of the police and a member of the secretariat of the National Security Council.

His fifth proposed witness is General John Nkunda, Chief of the Defence Forces and a member of the National Security Council secretariat.

“I request that all those I have mentioned be served with summonses to appear before the court,” Lissu said.

Other witnesses named by Lissu include Suleiman Abubakar Mombo, Director General of the Tanzania Intelligence and Security Service (TISS); Ramadhani Kingai, Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI); CHADEMA Deputy Chairman for Mainland John Heche; CHADEMA Secretary General John Mnyika; CHADEMA Deputy Secretary General for Mainland Amani Golugwa; and CHADEMA Director of Communications Brenda Rupiah.

Prosecution Objects to Some Witnesses

Government Chief State Attorney Nassoro Katuga told the court that some of the government officials Lissu wants to call had already been represented through evidence presented by the prosecution.

Katuga argued that there was therefore no need for the court to summon certain government officials to testify in the treason case.

He said, however, that the prosecution had no objection to other witnesses who are not government officials being called, provided the proper legal procedures are followed.

Lissu Responds to Prosecution’s Argument

Responding to the prosecution’s argument that some of his proposed witnesses had not been identified during the committal proceedings, Lissu said he had previously attempted to have their names recorded at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court.

He told the High Court that the magistrate had declined to record the names of the witnesses when he began listing them.

Lissu said that after the case was transferred to the High Court, he raised the matter before the court, which subsequently gave him an opportunity to identify his witnesses so that their names could be entered into the record.

On the issue of summoning President Samia, Lissu said the President could be served with a court summons through the Chief Secretary or the President’s Private Secretary.

The court’s ruling that Lissu has a case to answer marks a new phase in the high-profile treason proceedings, with attention now shifting to the defence evidence and the witnesses Lissu intends to call.