Defendant Dr. Wilbroad Slaa (center) discussing with his lawyer Hekima Mwasipu and other Chadema leaders at Kisutu Magistrate's Court after being charged with spreading false information on the X social media platform. Photo: File
By Adonis Byemelwa
A prominent former ambassador and long-time politician, Dr. Wilbroad Slaa, is remaining in custody after his bid for bail was denied at Kisutu Magistrate's Court in Dar es Salaam.
The 76-year-old opposition figure, who is also battling health issues, was led away by prison guards after the court decided to postpone his bail hearing.
The drama unfolded on January 16, 2025, when tensions escalated between Dr. Slaa’s legal team and the magistrate, bringing the courtroom to a standstill.
Dr. Slaa’s lawyers, a powerful team that included the President of the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), Boniface Mwambukusi, were visibly furious with the court’s handling of their client’s case.
The main bone of contention was Magistrate Beda Nyaki’s decision to delay a ruling on Dr. Slaa’s bail application until after she had heard objections to the validity of the charge sheet.
This decision was met with loud protests from the defense team, leading to a heated exchange that would dominate the court proceedings for the day.
The clash began when Senior Magistrate Nyaki agreed with the prosecution’s argument that the bail application could not be heard until the court decided on the legal validity of the charge sheet.
This decision, which would determine whether the case could proceed at all, was set to be heard on January 23, 2025. The defense lawyers, however, were furious. They believed that Dr. Slaa’s age and health, alongside the political nature of the case, warranted immediate consideration of his bail.
Leading the charge was Lawyer Hekima Mwasipu, who stood up and began to voice his frustration in no uncertain terms. Mwasipu raised his voice and accused the prosecution of unfair treatment, drawing attention to Dr. Slaa’s age, health, and status as a public figure.
“Look at this elderly man, he could be your parent,” Mwasipu said, his tone rising. “He is 76 years old and in poor health. You cannot treat him like this. What you’re doing is simply wrong!”
The courtroom became tense as the defense lawyers clashed with the magistrate. Mwambukusi, who has been a leading figure in the legal community, slammed his legal files down on the table in protest, demanding that the court proceed with the bail application.
“We had already agreed that the objection and the bail request would be heard together, so why the sudden change?” Mwambukusi asked, his voice filled with frustration. “This is not right!”
As the atmosphere grew more heated, one of Dr. Slaa’s lawyers boldly confronted Magistrate Nyaki, suggesting that if she was unwilling to move forward with the case, she should step down rather than allow the proceedings to be delayed further. However, Magistrate Nyaki remained silent throughout the altercation, seemingly caught off guard by the aggressive response from the defense. She did not attempt to answer the defense’s questions and instead quietly exited the courtroom, leaving the situation unresolved.
The protests from the defense team continued, with the lawyers insisting that they would not leave the court without Dr. Slaa. Despite the uproar, the prison officers were quick to act.
Six officers swiftly escorted Dr. Slaa out of the courtroom and into a waiting prison bus, where he was taken back into custody. The defense team, still simmering with anger, announced plans to file for a judicial review at the High Court of Dar es Salaam in response to the court’s handling of the case.
Amid the drama, Dr. Slaa himself appeared remarkably calm. The elderly politician, who has been a fixture in Tanzania’s political landscape for decades, smiled softly as the commotion unfolded around him.
When asked by a relative why he seemed unfazed, he responded with a shrug, “This is just politics,” showing little concern for the uproar. His cool demeanor in the face of such a charged situation reflected his long experience in Tanzanian politics.
Dr. Slaa’s legal team included prominent figures such as Edson Kilatu, Peter Madeleka, Sanga Melikiole, Sisty Aloyce, and Mwanaisha Mndeme, all of whom worked tirelessly to challenge the court’s handling of the case.
The prosecution team, meanwhile, was led by Senior State Attorney Tawabu Issa, who was joined by Clemence Kato, Michael Ngoboko, and Nura Manja. The prosecutors, while observing the situation unfold, remained largely silent, offering no response to the defense’s complaints.
At the heart of the legal dispute is the question of whether the charge against Dr. Slaa is valid. The defense team, led by Madeleka, argued that the charge sheet was flawed, citing Section 131 A (1)(4) of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA), which stipulates that a case cannot proceed in court without a completed investigation.
They pointed out that the case against Dr. Slaa had been brought before the court despite the investigation not being finished. “This case has already been brought twice without proper investigations,” Madeleka argued. “The law is clear—criminal cases must be brought to court only after a thorough investigation has been completed.”
Furthermore, the defense argued that the charges against Dr. Slaa, which relate to online misinformation, do not meet the criteria for a serious criminal offense and thus should not be subject to the same legal procedures as more serious crimes.
The charge alleges that Dr. Slaa spread false information online through the platform X (formerly Twitter) on January 9, 2025, using the account name “Maria Salungi Tsehai @MariaSTsehai” to mislead the public.
In response, the prosecution, led by Attorney Issa, defended the charges, arguing that spreading false information online is a serious matter, particularly when it threatens public safety. They maintained that the charge against Dr. Slaa fell within the category of offenses that are not eligible for bail.
As the case continues to unfold, it has already sparked widespread debate about the fairness of the legal process and the political motivations behind the charges. With tensions high and the future of the case uncertain, all eyes will be on the High Court as Dr. Slaa’s legal team prepares to challenge the handling of the case in the coming days.