Joseph Isangura
The long-running treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu took another turn on Thursday as Inspector John Kaaya, a police cyber-crime officer, testified before a three-judge panel at the High Court of Tanzania.
The courtroom, packed with observers and journalists, listened closely as Kaaya described how he analyzed digital evidence linked to the case — a process that has sparked public debate about freedom of speech and political expression in the country.
Kaaya, the second witness for the prosecution, told the court that he had come across a video clip on YouTube that featured a live broadcast titled “Tundu Lissu Uso kwa Uso na Watia Nia Majimboni – No Reforms, No Election.” He said that after viewing the footage, he found what he believed were statements suggesting “criminal indicators,” prompting him to download and preserve the clip as evidence.
He explained that the material was encrypted and submitted to the investigative unit as part of standard digital-forensics procedure. However, during his testimony, Mr. Lissu — who is defending himself — objected to portions of Kaaya’s statements, arguing that they touched on issues previously dismissed in related cases. The court, led by Justice Danstan Ndunguru, advised the witness to focus strictly on what he observed rather than interpreting the intent behind the video.
The hearing follows testimony from Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) George Bagyemu, the first witness, who closed his statement earlier in the week. The prosecution is expected to present several more witnesses as the case unfolds.
At the end of Thursday’s session, Lissu requested that the court accept copies of one of his earlier books, Remaining in the Shadow, which he said explores the struggle for democratic reforms and could provide context to his remarks in the contested video. The judges postponed their decision on whether to admit the book as part of the evidence.
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The court adjourned until Friday, when cross-examination is scheduled to begin. It is expected to be a tense session, as Lissu prepares to question the cyber-crime expert himself — a rare moment in Tanzanian legal history where a defendant of his stature directly faces off against the state’s digital investigators.
Lissu’s ongoing trial has drawn widespread attention both locally and internationally. As a former Member of Parliament and a long-time advocate for democracy in Tanzania, his case has become emblematic of the growing debate around political freedoms and the use of technology in legal investigations.
The trial is being heard amid heightened public sensitivity over cybercrime laws and how they are applied in cases involving opposition figures. Critics argue that these laws, while necessary to prevent misinformation and online fraud, have occasionally been used to stifle dissent.
Whether the upcoming cross-examination brings new revelations or deepens the legal stalemate, it is clear that this case — like many in Tanzania’s modern political history — goes far beyond the courtroom. It touches on the delicate balance between freedom of speech and national security, and on the question of how far the country’s democracy has come.
