Tanzania Opposition Demands Answers from Telecoms Giant in Lissu Tracking Controversy

Tanzania's main opposition party is demanding telecom firm Tigo address allegations that it helped the government track opposition lawmaker Tundu Lissu before a failed assassination attempt in 2017. The claims were made by a former employee in a British court. Millicom, Tigo's parent company, has denied the allegations.

Tanzania's main opposition party is urging telecoms giant Tigo to respond to severe accusations by a former employee. The employee alleged that the company aided the government in tracking the location of opposition lawmaker Tundu Lissu, who subsequently survived an assassination attempt.

According to court filings, the ex-worker at Tigo's parent company, Millicom, told a British court that Tigo had provided mobile phone data to the government indicating Lissu's location in the weeks leading up to the attack. The lawmaker's car was riddled with bullets in September 2017 by unknown assailants.

In a news conference, Lissu disclosed his plans to file a case against Tigo and the Tanzanian government, expressing distrust in local courts. He emphasized the need for Tigo to disclose the details of their communication with the government. Millicom acknowledged learning about the data sharing concerns in late August or early September 2017 and disciplined the involved parties. However, Millicom denied allegations of wrongful dismissal made by former employee Michael Clifford. The Tanzanian government and Millicom have not commented on the matter.

(With inputs from agencies.)