Tanzania Law Society (TLS) president Boniface Mwabukusi has publicly defended a lawyer, former TLS president and opposition figure Tundu Lissu, raising concerns over the handling of his ongoing treason case and urging lawyers to speak out.
Speaking to fellow advocates, Mwabukusi criticised the way the case has been managed, pointing to delays and procedural inconsistencies. “A case that has already begun is being halted, with strange appeals emerging in the middle,” he said.
He questioned the legitimacy of the arrest itself, arguing that what unfolded was widely seen and should not be shielded from scrutiny. “You cannot arrest people unfairly and then tell us to stay silent because of sub judice rules,” he said.
Mwabukusi was direct in rejecting the charges facing Lissu. “Tundu Lissu is not a traitor, we all know that,” he said, adding that no act or statement presented so far meets the threshold for treason.
He also highlighted the length of detention, noting that Lissu has spent more than a year in custody while the case continues to be adjourned. “He has been in detention for over a year… the case goes on, it is postponed again and again. This is not fair,” he said.
In a political remark, Mwabukusi suggested that if Lissu’s political presence is seen as a problem, then the system itself should be reconsidered. “If Tundu Lissu is a political problem, then scrap the multiparty system and remain with one party,” he said.
He urged lawyers not to remain passive, warning that silence could invite further disregard for the profession. “If we allow ourselves to be played with, we will be disrespected,” he said.
Mwabukusi maintained that the goal remains stability, but said it cannot be achieved without fairness and mutual respect. “We want a stable country, but stability cannot exist where there is no respect,” he said.
Lissu’s case continues to draw attention within legal and political circles, with proceedings ongoing amid repeated delays.
