This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g2rw7zp7no

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Tundu Lissu: Defiant Tanzanian opposition leader appears in court in Dar es Salaam Tundu Lissu trial: President Samia warns Kenyan activists against 'meddling' in Tanzania affairs
(about 16 hours later)
Tanzania's main opposition leader Tundu Lissu has appeared in court for the first time since his arrest on treason charges last month, telling his supporters not to fear. Kenyan activists were blocked from attending the court appearance of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu
Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan has warned activists from neighbouring Kenya that she will not allow them to "meddle" in her country's affairs and cause "chaos".
Her comments came after prominent Kenyan lawyers and rights campaigners were deported, preventing them from attending the court case of an opposition leader charged with treason.
"If they have been contained in their country, let them not come here to meddle. Let's not give them a chance. They have already created chaos in their own country," Samia said.
Human rights groups are concerned that the Tanzanian government is increasingly cracking down on the opposition ahead of elections in October.
On Monday, the leader of the main opposition Chadema party, Tundu Lissu, appeared in a magistrate's court after being arrested last month.
He raised his fist in a gesture of defiance and told his supporters: "You will be fine. You should not fear."He raised his fist in a gesture of defiance and told his supporters: "You will be fine. You should not fear."
Tension was high in the country's biggest city, Dar es Salaam, in the morning, with security officers heavily deployed at the trial magistrate's court and elsewhere. There was a heavy deployment of security officers at the court in Dar es Salaam, the largest city.
But that did not deter his supporters, hundreds of whom gathered outside the court. This did not deter Lissu's supporters, hundreds of whom had gathered outside.
The court had previously attempted to conduct hearings virtually, but he and his legal team opposed this, citing the need for transparency and due process. The case was adjourned to 2 June after the prosecution asked for more time for investigations.
The Chadema party leader was arrested on 9 April following his rallying call for "no reforms, no election" - telling supporters that the general election due in October should not go ahead unless there are electoral reforms. The court had previously attempted to conduct proceedings virtually, but Lissu's legal team opposed this, citing the need for transparency.
The Chadema party leader was arrested on 9 April following his rallying call for "no reforms, no election".
He is demanding sweeping changes, saying Tanzania's current laws do not allow for free and fair elections. The government denies the allegation..
He has since been charged with treason and publishing false information online, which allegedly incited rebellion and accused police of electoral misconduct.He has since been charged with treason and publishing false information online, which allegedly incited rebellion and accused police of electoral misconduct.
He denies the charges. He denies the charges. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
Could this be the end of the road for Lissu, Tanzania's great survivor?Could this be the end of the road for Lissu, Tanzania's great survivor?
On Monday, the prosecution said that investigations into the treason charges were still ongoing, with Lissu's lawyers questioning the delay. Lissu's legal team raised concerns over the heavy police presence around the court, which the magistrate acknowledged, saying there would be consultations on whether this was justified.
The court has urged the prosecution to hasten the process and the case will be heard again on 2 June. President Samia was widely praised for giving Tanzanians greater political freedom when she took office in 2021 following the death of the incumbent, John Magufuli.
Lissu's team also raised concerns over the heavy police presence around the court, which the judges acknowledged, saying there would be consultations on whether this was justified. Her critics say Tanzania is once again seeing the repression that characterised Magufuli's rule. The government denies the allegation.
The case, which Lissu has described as politically motivated, has heightened concerns over the state of democracy in the country. On Sunday, Kenya's former Justice Minister Martha Karua was deported from Tanzania along with two colleagues to prevent them from attending Lissu's court case.
It has attracted global attention, especially after the deportation of prominent Kenyan personalities who had travelled to the country in solidarity with Lissu.
On Sunday, former Justice Minister Martha Karua said she had been deported from Tanzania along with her two colleagues to prevent them from attending the trial.
The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition said it was shocked by the "arbitrary arrests".The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition said it was shocked by the "arbitrary arrests".
Hours later, former Kenyan chief justice Willy Mutunga and other prominent rights activists said they had been stopped and held at the airport.Hours later, former Kenyan chief justice Willy Mutunga and other prominent rights activists said they had been stopped and held at the airport.
Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan has apparently backed the moves by the security agencies, saying: "We've started seeing a trend where some activists from our neighbouring countries are trying to interfere with our internal affairs. But another former Kenyan chief justice, David Maraga, was in court and said that he hoped "the legal process ahead will be fair, just, and expeditious".
"If they have been contained in their country, let them not come here to meddle. Let's not give them a chance - they have already created chaos in their own country. Speaking at the launch of Tanzania's new foreign policy in Dar es Salaam on Monday, Samia stressed that she would not tolerate external efforts to undermine her country's peace and stability.
"We are the only country [in the region] that still has security and peace. "We will not give a chance to anyone to come and destroy us," she said.
"I urge our security agencies... not to give a chance to indisciplined people from elsewhere to come create indiscipline here." She instructed the authorities not to allow "those who have spoiled their countries to cross over to Tanzania... and spread their indiscipline here".
Another former Kenyan chief justice, David Maraga, was in court and said that he hoped "the legal process ahead will be fair, just, and expeditious". "I have seen several clips saying I am biased, but what I am doing is protecting my country which is the key mandate I was given," the president added.
Recent events in Tanzania, including the arrest of other opposition figures and a wave of abductions and killing targeting government critics, have sparked condemnation and calls for an end to political repression. Recent events in Tanzania, including the arrest of other opposition figures and a wave of abductions and killings targeting government critics, have sparked condemnation and calls for an end to political repression.
The Chadema party has been disqualified from the October general elections after demanding electoral reforms and refusing to comply with the electoral commission's requirement to sign a code of conduct. The Chadema party has been disqualified from contesting the general election after refusing to comply with the electoral commission's requirement to sign a code of conduct.
You may also be interested in:You may also be interested in:
Why Samia's hesitant reforms are fuelling Tanzanian political angerWhy Samia's hesitant reforms are fuelling Tanzanian political anger
'Manhandled and choked' - Tanzanian activist recounts abduction'Manhandled and choked' - Tanzanian activist recounts abduction
Fiery Tanzanian politician Tundu Lissu elected to head opposition partyFiery Tanzanian politician Tundu Lissu elected to head opposition party
Tanzania's main opposition party banned from electionTanzania's main opposition party banned from election
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafricaFollow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica