Flying Advocate: Martha Karua Lands in Tanzania to Represent Opposition Leader Tindu Lissu
- Martha Karua led a pan-Africanist group in demanding justice on behalf of Chadema chairman Tundu Lissu
- Lissu is currently detained with treason charges over his head following his sentiments the state deemed as inflammatory
- The Karua-led team demanded the release of Lissu and other detainees associated with the Tanzanian opposition
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People's Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua was in Tanzania to litigate in defence of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
Source: Getty Images
Lissu, the chairman of Tanzania's centre-right Chadema party, was arrested and detained after his remarks at a campaign rally.
How Karua showed solidarity with Tundu Lissu
His sentiments were interpreted by the state as being inflammatory; he was preferred treason charges in court.
Karua was in the country on Thursday, April 24, where she led a pan-African team during Lissu's trial.
The politician was to be presented to the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court in Dar es Salaam.
He was, however, not arraigned, with the court carrying out the session virtually.
Karua, while addressing the press outside the magistrate's court,
"I have been shocked that Tundu Lissu was not presented in court, yet the court session is going on virtually. His charges are serious ones with no bail. Ones that are punishable by death. Such cases cannot be heard online. That is why Lissu's lawyers have objected, and he refused to attend the virtual session. We will wait for the court to decide whether the case will continue virtually or physically," Karua said.
The Karua-led group went on to demand the immediate withdrawal of charges against Lissu and all political prisoners.
Lissu was transferred from Keko Prison to Ukonga Prison.
This would not be the first international case Karua is involved in.
In January this year, the politician was in Kampala, Uganda, to defend veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye.
She appeared at the Makindye General Military Court Martial on Tuesday, January 7, in defence of Besigye.
Source: UGC
How Karua faced off with Ugandan army generals
While putting up her appearance in court, Karua took on a ranking Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) general who had confronted the defence team for inappropriately referencing the court.
The army generals presiding over the court martial seemed to have taken offence at Besigye's lawyers referring to the court as a tribunal.
"...Anybody going to refer to this court as a tribunal will be in contempt of this court. That is my advice," said one. In her style, Karua faulted the army chief for treating the defence lawyers to orders that appeared to demean them. "Are you advising or making a ruling? I have been a judge just like you and you advise, you don't make a ruling," she submitted.
Karua further decried the efforts by the court to scuttle the defence team's efforts to pursue justice for the accused persons.
"We have been subjected to very difficult conditions back and forth to the extent that we're so exhausted and not capable of representing our clients properly. We have also witnessed before your eyes the assault of one of our team members," she lamented.
Besigye and his associate Haji Obeid Lutale were charged with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition following their arrests.
This was after they were abducted in Nairobi, where they were attending Karua's book fair.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
