Tanzanian opposition leader to represent himself in treason trial

7 hours ago 1

The main absorption person successful Tanzania has been granted support to correspond himself successful his treason proceedings aft being denied the close to conscionable his lawyers successful private

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania -- The main absorption person successful Tanzania was granted support connected Monday to correspond himself successful his treason trial aft being denied the close to conscionable his lawyers successful backstage by situation authorities.

Tundu Lissu was arrested connected April 9 and charged with treason aft addressing a nationalist rally calling for electoral reforms up of planned wide elections successful October.

Lissu's Chadema enactment has been captious of the lack of an autarkic electoral committee and laws that favour the ruling CCM party, which has been successful powerfulness since Tanzania’s independency successful 1961.

Lissu survived an assassination effort aft being changeable 16 times successful 2017, 3 years earlier the past election.

The absorption person told the tribunal connected Monday that helium was being forced to talk to his lawyers done a telephone successful a tiny country and was disquieted that anyone could beryllium listening oregon signaling the conversations.

“I person much than 30 lawyers who I spot precise much. Today is the 68th time since I was arraigned and charged with treason, but my lawyers person been repeatedly denied the close to spot maine successful private,” Lissu said.

The main magistrate astatine the Kisutu tribunal successful Dar es Salaam, Franco Kiswaga, said Lissu would beryllium allowed to prosecute straight with the prosecution unless helium aboriginal decides otherwise. He urged the prosecution to velocity up investigations and acceptable a proceeding day for July 1.

Lissu besides protested what helium called a denial of basal rights including the close to worship. He said helium was being held successful a conception of the situation designated for inmates sentenced to death, adjacent though helium has not been convicted.

Human rights activists person accused Tanzania's government, led by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, of heavy-handed tactics against the opposition. The authorities denies the claims.