The main opposition leader in Tanzania was granted permission on Monday to represent himself in his treason trial after being denied the right to meet his lawyers in private by prison authorities.
Tundu Lissu was arrested on April 9 and charged with treason after addressing a public rally calling for electoral reforms ahead of planned general elections in October.
Lissu’s Chadema party has been critical of the absence of an independent electoral commission and laws that favour the ruling CCM party, which has been in power since Tanzania’s independence in 1961.
The opposition leader told the court on Monday that he was being forced to speak to his lawyers through a phone in a small room and was worried that anyone could be listening or recording the conversations.
The chief magistrate at the Kisutu court in Dar es Salaam, Franco Kiswaga, said Lissu would be allowed to engage directly with the prosecution unless he later decides otherwise. He urged the prosecution to speed up investigations and set a hearing date for July 1.
TANZANIAN OPPOSITION LEADER TO REPRESENT HIMSELF IN TREASON TRIAL
