In a landmark development yesterday, the High Court of Tanzania, Sub-Registry of Dar es Salaam, upheld objections raised by opposition leader and CHADEMA National Chairman, Tundu Lissu, against a notice seeking to introduce supplementary evidence in his ongoing treason trial.

Lissu, representing himself, countered that the law applies only to new witnesses, not fresh evidence for those already heard. He warned that admitting the notice would open a “Pandora’s box” of issues beyond the charge sheet, including politically sensitive events of October 29, 2025.

The court decided in his favor after finding that the notice failed to meet statutory requirements under Section 308 of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA). The judges emphasized that the provision applies only to new witnesses, not additional evidence for those already heard, thereby rendering the notice inadmissible.

This follows a notice filed on February 18 by ACP Amini Mahamba, defended in court yesterday by Attorney General Nassoro Katuga. Katuga argued that the filing complied with Section 308 and merely supplemented Mahamba’s testimony, urging the court to dismiss Lissu’s objection. Lissu, representing himself, countered that admitting the notice would open a “Pandora’s box” of issues beyond the charge sheet, including politically sensitive events of October 29, 2025.

Yesterday’s exchanges set the stage for today’s session, as the three-judge panel led by Justice Dastan Ndunguru, with Justices James Karayamaha and Ferdinand Kiwonde, is expected to continue hearing prosecution witnesses following their ruling on the validity of the notice.