Lema officially declares allegiance to Lissu’s faction ahead of Chadema’s elections

Dar es Salaam. The former Chairman of the Chadema Northern Zone, Godbless Lema, has advised the party's National Chairman, Freeman Mbowe, to listen to the advice from his family, urging him not to seek re-election.

Lema said that Mbowe had often expressed his desire to rest and allow new energy from the youth to continue the struggle, but people, who call themselves members, had been advising him to continue as the chairman.

Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam today, Tuesday, January 14, 2025, Lema said that he respects Mbowe for the great work he has done in building Chadema, but now he should listen more to the advice from his family.

"Several times Mbowe has told me that he needs to rest and leave the party for us to continue the struggle. However, when he wanted to fulfil his ambition, some members of the party would march to his house, urging him to run for chairmanship.

“He said he would think it over, and then he said he would contest. For me, I think it’s important for him to listen more to the advice from his family," Lema said.

Standing with Tundu Lissu

Lema has made clear his stance that he will support and campaign for Tundu Lissu to become the chairman of the party.

Lissu, who is the Vice Chairman of Chadema-Mainland, is contesting against the current chairman, Freeman Mbowe, in the elections scheduled for January 21, 2025.

Lema also made clear that if Mbowe wins the position, he will not contest for the Arusha Urban parliamentary seat in the upcoming elections later this year.

"I am here to make it clear that I support Lissu. I know I will be in a very difficult situation before my brother (Mbowe), but I want to make it clear that I stand with Lissu and will fight for him in this struggle to become the chairman.

"I have been approached by people asking me not to abandon my brother in this fight. Some have even gone to my mother in the village to report that if I do not support Mbowe and he wins, I will lose my chance to run for the parliamentary seat. Let me be clear: I stand with Lissu, and if the Chairman (Mbowe) wins, I will not contest for the Arusha Urban seat," said Lema.

Advising Lissu to appoint Dr Slaa to the National Executive Committee

Lema said he has advised Chadema chairman candidate Tundu Lissu that if he wins, he should appoint Dr Wilbrod Slaa to the party's national executive committee.

Lema said that everything that happened between Dr Slaa, the former Secretary-General of Chadema, and his departure in the middle of the 2015 General Election could be resolved, allowing him to return to the fight for democracy.

"I have advised Lissu that if he wins, he should appoint Dr. Slaa to the national executive committee. Dr Slaa had dreams of becoming president, which we lost, and he left, but you can see he still advocates strongly for human rights," said Lema.

Lissu and Heche will compete against Freeman Mbowe, who is seeking reelection as chairman, and Ezekiel Wenje, the Vice Chairman of Chadema-Mainland in the party’s elections on January 21, 2025.

Lema has asked Mbowe to rest and remain as an advisor to the party.