Principal Resident Magistrate Franco Kiswaga has issued a sweeping ban on live coverage of the trial of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, citing the need to protect the identities of civilian witnesses. During preliminary proceedings at the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday, Kiswaga ruled 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.” The decision has sparked criticism from Lissu and his supporters, who argue that such restrictions undermine transparency and public accountability in a politically charged case.
Lissu was arrested in April following a speech that prosecutors claim incited the public to disrupt the upcoming presidential and legislative elections scheduled for October. If convicted, he could face the death penalty—a prospect that has drawn international concern. The opposition leader condemned the court’s decision to hold the trial behind closed doors, warning that it would allow proceedings to unfold in “darkness” and prevent citizens from witnessing what he described as a politically motivated prosecution. “Justice must be done and be seen to be done,” Lissu asserted, emphasizing the importance of public scrutiny in democratic processes.
As the head of CHADEMA, Tanzania’s largest opposition party, Lissu has long been a vocal critic of the ruling government. CHADEMA was barred from participating in the October general election after calling for reforms to an electoral system it claims is skewed in favor of the ruling party. Lissu’s political journey has been marked by resilience; in 2017, he survived an assassination attempt in which he was shot 16 times. Undeterred, he ran for president in 2020 and finished second, solidifying his role as a central figure in Tanzania’s opposition movement.
The trial comes amid growing scrutiny of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s human rights record. A wave of high-profile arrests and unexplained abductions has raised alarm among rights groups and international observers. A 2024 report by the U.S. State Department painted a grim picture of the situation in Tanzania, citing widespread abuses including “arbitrary or unlawful killings; disappearances; torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; arbitrary arrest or detention; and serious restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom.” These developments have intensified calls for judicial independence and democratic accountability in a country grappling with political tension and civil unrest.