Hassan Magulumali
The High Court of Tanzania, Dar es Salaam Sub-Registry, has acquitted CHADEMA Chairman Tundu Antiphas Lissu of treason but convicted him of incitement in a landmark ruling delivered on Friday, November 6, 2026.
The decision was delivered by a three-judge panel led by Justice Dunstan Ndunguru, alongside Justices James Karayemaha and Ferdinand Kiwionde, in treason case number 19605/2025.
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Reading the judgment, Justice Ndunguru said the court was satisfied that the evidence presented during the trial established the offence of incitement rather than treason, which carries the death penalty under Tanzanian law.
Invoking its powers under Section 309 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the court substituted the treason charge with the lesser offence of incitement and found Lissu guilty.
The judges noted that statements made by Lissu during a meeting with aspiring candidates amounted to incitement and had allegedly resulted in unlawful acts intended to disrupt the 2025 General Election process.
The court also dismissed concerns that the alteration of the charge had prejudiced Lissu’s right to a fair trial, maintaining that he had been given sufficient opportunity to understand the case and defend himself.
“The court is satisfied that, under Section 309 of the Criminal Procedure Code, Lissu committed the offence of incitement and hereby finds him guilty,” Justice Ndunguru stated.
The ruling marks a significant development in the high-profile case, which has attracted considerable national and international attention.
