The main opposition party in Tanzania, Chadema, has nominated former Member of Parliament, Tundu Lissu (who returned to the country last week after a three-year self-imposed exile) as its presidential candidate. He will run against the controversial incumbent, John Magufuli, in the country’s upcoming October 28 polls.
The party made the decision on Monday after Lissu garnered 405 votes at its general council meeting which was attended by 453 of its 456 members. Other aspirants, Central Zone chairman, Lazaro Nyalandu and Mayrose Majinge got 36 and 1 vote, respectively.
Despite the votes at the party’s general council meeting, approval still has to be gotten from the national delegates conference slated for next week Tuesday. The party’s deputy secretary-general Salum Mwalimu has been tapped to run alongside Lissu’s as his Vice President.
Still Standing After 16 Shots
Lissu, who was a serving member of Tanzania’s parliament, was the victim of an assassination attempt in September 2017 in the administrative capital of Dodoma, where he was shot 16 times. Fleeing Tanzania following this attack, Lissu underwent a total of 20 surgeries while receiving treatment in Belgium, where he remained up until his return last week. Although Magufuli called for an investigation into the attack, no one was ever arrested.
Prior to his 2017, Lissu was arrested eight times for being a vocal opponent of Magufuli’s government. He was also charged with incitement, among other charges. He maintained his stance while in Belgium and upon arrival back to his home country. Describing Magufuli’s government as “hell” to the AFP, he cited the alleged killing and intimidation of opposition leaders and activists in the country, adding: “Whether we are going to have free and fair elections, that is not the question, we don’t expect that. The issue is … are we going to have our lives by the end of the electoral process?”
The elections in October will be hotly contested as Lissu and Chadema will try to unseat Magufuli who is running for another term under the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party that has been ruling Tanzania since independence.
