Police in Dar es Salaam say they have received reports of people mobilising to enter the city and cause chaos on the day of Tundu Lissu's treason verdict. Lissu chairs the opposition party Chadema. The High Court's Dar es Salaam Sub-Registry is expected to rule in his case on Friday, November 6, Mwananchi reported.
Jumanne Muliro, commander of the Dar es Salaam Special Police Zone, spoke to journalists on Tuesday. He said some people were allegedly urging each other, both inside and outside the city, to travel to Dar es Salaam. Some of them, he said, intended to cause trouble.
Muliro said police were following the reports closely to keep the peace and let residents go about their daily business. He said the force would not tolerate acts that threaten public safety. He added that police would act within the law against anyone found taking part in crime.
A three-judge panel is hearing the case. Judge Dunstan Ndunguru leads it, sitting with James Karayemaha and Ferdinand Kiwonde. Lissu, a lawyer by profession, faces a treason charge under section 39(2)(d) of the Penal Code.
Prosecutors allege that on April 3, 2025, Lissu tried to incite the public to stop the 2025 General Election from taking place. They say he did so through spoken and written words aimed at pressuring Tanzania's head of government. According to the charge sheet, the words he allegedly used included pledges to block the election and to mobilise rebellion as a way to bring change.
At the same briefing, Muliro said police in the zone arrested more than 67 suspects for various crimes in October 2026. One of them is Abrahman Suleiman, known as Bunda, of Mtoni Kijichi. He was arrested with three others accused of motorbike robberies, which locals call "vishandu". Police say the gang snatched phones, wallets and laptops, and sometimes wounded victims with knives and machetes.
Police also arrested Aziz Joachim, known as Mabewa, of Kivule, along with five others suspected of phone theft. Muliro said the group used a machine to wipe stolen phones and install other operating systems. He also said police are working with residents through the Ongea na Kamanda (Talk to the Commander) programme. Under it, people raise security concerns at street and ward meetings.