Tanzanian court has prohibited live coverage of the treason trial of an opposition leader

Tundu Lissu, the leading opposition figure in Tanzania, criticized the ruling after a Tanzanian court on Monday prohibited live coverage of treason proceedings against him.

In response to the state prosecutor’s plea that their identities be kept secret, Principal Resident Magistrate Franco Kiswaga stated the prohibition would help protect civilian prosecution witnesses.

During preliminary hearings at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dar es Salaam on Monday, Kiswaga declared that “live streaming, live broadcast, and any other kind of live distribution of content online to the public including on social media or video broadcast… are hereby prohibited.”

Lissu had previously resisted the motion, arguing that it would allow the court to function in “darkness” and keep his supporters from keeping up with the case. The court’s ruling was also criticized by representatives of his CHADEMA party.

“Justice must be done and be seen to be done,” Lissu, who is now defending himself after firing his lawyers, stated last week.

Lissu has been detained since early April after being accused of treason and publishing false information. He is the leader of Tanzania’s largest opposition party. He has denied the accusations.

Lissu finished second in the 2020 presidential race, but his party has been barred from taking part in the October presidential and legislative elections. Lissu was shot sixteen times in a 2017 murder attempt.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan claims her government is dedicated to upholding human rights, but his recent detention and mysterious kidnappings of government dissidents have brought attention to her record.

After taking office after her predecessor John Magufuli’s death in 2021, Hassan is making her maiden attempt for the presidency.