CHADEMA national chairman Tundu Lissu has questioned the basis of the treason charge he faced after spending 577 days in detention, only for the High Court to convict him of the lesser offence of incitement.
Addressing a three-judge panel during mitigation following his conviction, Mr Lissu said the change in the offence raised serious questions about the grounds on which he had originally been charged and detained.
He said he had spent 577 days in prison facing treason, which he described as the most serious offence under the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, but had ultimately been found guilty of incitement.
“After spending 577 days in prison being called a traitor, an offence which is the gravest under the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, today you call me an inciter, after I spent 577 days waiting for the hangman’s noose,” he told the judges.
“What does this mean, honourable judges? It means that the offence with which I was charged was not an offence,” he added.
Lissu also questioned the legal implications of the conviction, noting that even the Chief State Attorney, Nassor Katuga, had sought clarification on the applicable punishment for incitement.
He maintained that the evidence he had presented during the trial demonstrated that the case was politically motivated, arguing that the court had been turned into an arena for political battles.
Describing the proceedings as political persecution, Lissu alleged that efforts had been made to find grounds to punish him because of his political positions and views.
He further said that, apart from treason, he had also faced a charge of disseminating false information, which he claimed was not addressed in the court’s final determination.
Lissu began presenting his mitigation at 12.24pm, continuing to make submissions before the three judges concerning the judgment and the conviction-The-guardian. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
