Tanzanian opposition figure Tundu Lissu has announced that he will represent himself in court as he faces high-profile treason charges, claiming that his legal rights have been repeatedly violated since he was detained in April.
Appearing in court on Monday, Lissu told the judge that he had been denied private meetings with his lawyers for 68 days. “They were not allowed to see me or speak to me,” he said, explaining his decision to act as his own legal counsel in a case that carries the death penalty.
Lissu, who has been a vocal critic of the government, appeared in court wearing a T-shirt that read “No Reform, No Elections” and reinforced his party’s stance that it will boycott the upcoming elections unless major electoral reforms are implemented.
He also told the court that despite not being convicted, he was being held in the death penalty section of a prison under constant surveillance and denied the right to freedom of worship.
The current charges represent the most serious legal challenge Lissu has faced, despite previous arrests. His party has accused President Samia Suluhu Hassan of reviving repressive tactics used by his late predecessor John Magufuli.
The case has drawn international attention. In May, two activists from Kenya and Uganda who travelled to Tanzania to show solidarity with Lissu were detained. They later alleged that they were tortured and sexually abused by security forces.
Lissu’s case is seen as a critical test of Tanzania’s judicial independence and political freedoms ahead of the 2025 general elections.