2025 General Election takes centre stage in Lissu treason hearing

Dar es Salaam. The conduct and outcome of Tanzania’s 2025 General Election have featured prominently in the treason trial of Chadema chairman Tundu Lisasu, with a defence witness citing reports by regional and international election observer missions to question the credibility of the poll.

The issue was raised by the third defence witness who is also Chadema Deputy Secretary-General for Mainland Tanzania, Mr Aman Golugwa. Mr Golugwa began discussing the election in his testimony on Wednesday and continued on Thursday, September 3, 2026.

Mr Golugwa, who was led in evidence by Mr Lissu, referred to reports by election observers from the African Union (AU), Southern African Development Community (SADC), European Union (EU), Commonwealth and the Thabo Mbeki Foundation.

He told the High Court that the reports raised concerns over the conduct of the election, including alleged violations of electoral laws and regulations, violence, restrictions on opposition candidates and an uneven playing field.

According to the witness, the AU election observer report said the 2025 election did not meet democratic standards and guidelines.

He alleged that the report also recorded instances where voters were given multiple ballot papers and election officials allegedly inserted additional ballots into ballot boxes.

Mr Golugwa further told the court that the SADC observer mission criticised the election, saying it failed to meet democratic electoral standards.

He said the report cited alleged threats against opposition leaders, an uneven campaign environment and a lack of transparency throughout the electoral process.

“Fourth, there was fraud in the electoral process and violence on election day, meaning Tanzania’s election lacked the legitimacy to be called an election,” he said, referring to the SADC report.

On the EU observer mission, Mr Golugwa said its report expressed concern over violence on election day, destruction of property, the shutdown of communications networks and reports of deaths.

He also alleged that the EU report raised concerns over incidents before the election, including abductions and disappearances, as well as deaths reported on election day.

“Third, the electoral environment was not competitive on an equal basis and appeared to favour CCM. Fourth, the election in Tanzania was not free and transparent,” he said.

Mr Golugwa told the court that he had not personally seen the Commonwealth observer report but had heard the organisation’s secretary-general express concern over the violence and deaths.

He said the official had indicated that the Commonwealth would closely follow developments.

The witness also referred to the presidential election results, saying the CCM candidate received 31.6 million votes, equivalent to 98.6 percent, while opposition candidates collectively received 2.4 percent.

He said, however, that he did not know the results of parliamentary and councillor candidates.

Responding to a question from Mr Lissu about the position of the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, Mr Golugwa said the organisation had raised four concerns.

He said the foundation concluded that the election fell below SADC and AU democratic standards; voters were unable to freely exercise their democratic rights because of violence; and the announced presidential and parliamentary results did not reflect voters’ wishes.

He further alleged that the foundation had concluded that Tanzania did not have a legitimate government, claiming the Government had retained power through force and an illegitimate election.

On deaths during the post-election unrest, Mr Golugwa alleged that security forces, particularly police, beat protesters and obstructed election observers, including by confiscating their equipment.

He further alleged that security forces were involved in the deaths of protesters and that the observers called for accountability.

Mr Lissu is facing a treason charge under Section 39(2)(d) of the Penal Code. Prosecutors allege that on April 3, 2025, he incited the public to prevent the 2025 General Election by making statements online calling for pressure to be exerted on the country’s top Government leader.

The case is being heard by a three-judge panel comprising Justices Dunstan Ndunguru, James Karayemaha and Ferdinand Kiwonde.

The trial is at the defence stage, with Mr Golugwa continuing to give evidence under questioning by Mr Lissu.