By Adonis Byemelwa
Peter Madeleka, one of the lawyers representing Dr Wilbrod Slaa, announced through his account on the social media platform X that the High Court Registrar in Dar es Salaam had informed him that his client would not appear in court on 27 January 2025, as initially scheduled.
Instead, the hearing has been postponed to 30 January 2025 due to the presence of visiting Heads of State attending the two-day Africa Energy Summit being held in the city.
“In a statement, I received moments ago from the Deputy Registrar of the High Court, Dr Wilbrod Slaa will remain in custody until 30 January 2025 because, and I quote, ‘There is a visit from Heads of State,’” Madeleka wrote.
He further criticized the decision, describing it as unjust treatment of detainees. “This act of denying justice to detainees in the name of hosting dignitaries is nothing short of cruelty. I urge the use of virtual court systems to ensure that justice is served for those held in custody.”
This development comes as Dr Slaa’s legal team, which includes prominent lawyers such as Boniface Mwambukusi, the President of the Tanganyika Law Society, has been fighting tirelessly to secure his release.
The team has filed two key applications in the High Court: one to challenge the denial of bail for their client and another to question the legality of the main case being heard at the Kisutu Magistrate’s Court.
The legal wrangling began in earnest on 16 January 2025, when tensions flared between the defense team and Senior Magistrate Beda Nyaki. The issue arose when Magistrate Nyaki decided to delay ruling on Dr Slaa’s bail application until objections regarding the validity of the charge sheet were resolved.
The defense argued that this delay was unnecessary, especially given Dr Slaa’s advanced age of 76 and his precarious health.
Leading the defense, lawyer Hekima Mwasipu passionately argued for the court to consider Dr Slaa’s circumstances. “This elderly man is 76 years old and in poor health. You cannot treat him like this. What you’re doing is simply wrong!” Mwasipu declared, his voice echoing through the courtroom.
The defense team, including Mwambukusi, voiced their frustration loudly, accusing the court of unfair treatment. “We had already agreed that the objection and the bail application would be heard together. So why this sudden change?” Mwambukusi demanded.
The courtroom drama intensified when one of the lawyers called for Magistrate Nyaki to step down if she was unwilling to proceed. The magistrate, caught off guard by the heated confrontation, remained silent and left the courtroom without addressing the lawyers’ concerns.
Despite the defense’s protests, Dr Slaa was quickly escorted out of the courtroom by six prison officers and returned to custody. His legal team announced their intention to seek a judicial review at the High Court in response to the handling of the case.
The crux of the matter lies in the validity of the charges against Dr Slaa, who is accused of spreading false information online through a post made on X (formerly Twitter) on 9 January 2025 under the handle “Maria Salungi Tsehai @MariaSTsehai.” The defense has argued that the case is procedurally flawed, pointing out that it was brought to court without a completed investigation, as required under Section 131 A (1)(4) of Tanzania’s Criminal Procedure Act.
“The law is crystal clear—criminal cases must not proceed without thorough investigations. This case has already been brought to court twice without meeting that standard,” argued lawyer Peter Madeleka.
He further noted that the allegations against Dr. Slaa, involving online misinformation, do not meet the threshold of a serious criminal offense and should not be treated as such.
The prosecution, led by Senior State Attorney Tawabu Issa, has defended the charges, arguing that spreading false information online is a grave issue, especially when it threatens public safety. They maintain that the charges fall within a category of offenses for which bail is not applicable.
Amid the intense legal battle, Dr Slaa himself has remained calm, even smiling during heated courtroom exchanges.
When a relative asked him why he seemed unfazed, he reportedly replied, “This is just politics,” displaying a characteristic composure that reflects his decades of experience in Tanzania’s political arena.
As the next hearing approaches, questions linger about whether justice will be served swiftly or if Dr Slaa’s legal ordeal will continue to drag on.
His case has drawn widespread attention, igniting debates about judicial independence, political influence, and the treatment of detainees in Tanzania.
