Lissu's Chairmanship Bid: A defining challenge for Chadema?

Like Mr Makani and Mr Mtei, Mr Mbowe is among the party’s founding members since its establishment in 1992.

The news of Mr Lissu’s potential candidacy comes amid escalating internal tensions, with the politician making several controversial statements about the party and its leadership.

Recently, he has linked the party to corruption scandals, alleging that illicit funds could be used to influence Chadema's internal elections.

Mr Lissu first raised the allegations on May 2, 2024, during a public rally in Mwembetogwa, Iringa, where he claimed that money had been funneled into the party with the potential to corrupt the internal election process.

He criticized the party’s negotiations with CCM, accusing Chadema of being misled.

“We were deceived, and we fell for it. We were fed with sweet lies of reconciliation. We were told, ‘Don’t be too harsh, you’ll be offered a half-loaf government,’” Mr Lissu said in a press briefing on November 12, 2024, in Singida.

In response, Chadema’s Director of Protocol, Communications, and Foreign Affairs, John Mrema, denied raised claims, stressing that no power-sharing agreement proposal had been put forward by any party and dismissed corruption allegations, citing a lack of evidence.

Lissu’s Candidacy?

Although sources close to Mr Lissu confirm his intention to run for the chairmanship, the politician declined to comment, “I will inform you, when the time is ripe, or you will be informed."

On May 5, 2024, Mr Lissu had dismissed rumors of a rift with Mbowe, reiterating that he had no plans to contest the chairmanship.

"I have no plans to run for the Chadema chairmanship. I’ve been saying this for eight years, how many times do you want me to say it? Those saying this are foolish," Lissu had remarked.

However, reliable sources indicate that Mr Lissu’s plan to run for chairmanship is well underway.

His candidacy was initially expected to be announced on December 7, but this has been postponed until further notice.

"It was supposed to happen, but we’ve postponed it due to ongoing meetings. We will notify you of the new date," said one of Mr Lissu’s close associates.

One regional Chadema leader confirmed receiving an invitation to attend a meeting where Mr Lissu was set to announce his candidacy.

“I was called to a meeting where Mr Lissu will announce his candidacy for chairmanship,” the leader, who preferred to remain anonymous, said.

Since November 27, 2024, local government elections, which Chadema criticized the disqualification of its candidates and other irregularities, the party has not released an official statement.

A press release signed by Mr Mrema dated November 28, 2024, indicated that Chadema’s Central Committee would meet on November 29 under Mr Mbowe’s chairmanship.

Information says on November 30, 2024, the meeting initially commenced virtually via Zoom, before members decided to meet in person in Dar es Salaam due to the significance of the local government elections.

As a result, the meeting was rescheduled for December 2, 2024.

During this meeting, sources say there was significant internal disagreement over the party’s internal elections, with the local government election issue deferred for discussion by senior party leaders.

Stakeholder’s opinions

A political science lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Dr Faraja Kristomus, believes the ongoing developments signal potential division within the party.

“Mr Lissu is supported by the youths, while Mr Mbowe has the backing of the party’s Women Wing (Bawacha), the Elder’s Wing Council (Bazecha) and Central Committee members,” said the UDSM don, stressing the need for allowing democracy to take its course within the party.

The election process should not divide senior leaders from their members, added Dr Kristomus.

“Members should be free to choose their leaders without interference, and the current chairman (Mbowe) should allow others to compete for the party’s benefit.

His UDSM counterpart, Dr Richard Mbunda, warned that Mr Lissu’s decision to contest may cause a rift within Chadema, potentially leading to Mr Lissu’s departure from the party.

“If this happens, we might see Mr Lissu leaving Chadema, as these rumors have been circulating for some time. If the election proceeds, members will be torn between continuing with Mr Mbowe or supporting Mr Lissu,” he said.

Dr Mbunda emphasized that Chadema should uphold its reputation as a democratic party, allowing internal democracy to flourish, as this would lend the party greater legitimacy.

Who is Lissu?

Tundu Antiphas Mughwai Lissu, was born in January 20, 1968, in Mahambe Village, Ikungi District, Singida Region.

He is a lawyer and the party’s Vice Chairman (Mainland) since 2019 and doubles as the former Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) President.

Mr Lissu attended Ilboru Secondary School in Arusha and graduated in 1983, before proceeding to Galanos High School in Tanga for further studies.

He earned his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the UDSM and later completed his Master of Laws (LLM) at the University of Warwick in the UK between 1995 and 1996.

Mr Lissu worked with the Lawyers Environmental Action Team (LEAT) and the World Resources Institute, specializing in land rights, particularly in protected areas and the mining sector.

He ran for parliament in the Singida East Constituency in 1995 through the opposition NCCR Mageuzi just to emerge unsuccessful.

In 2009, he joined Chadema and ran for parliament in the same constituency in 2010 and lost again.

Mr Lissu has earned a reputation as a prominent lawyer, a leading opposition figure, and a vocal government critic.

He gained further prominence for his frequent confrontations with the government during President John Magufuli’s administration.

Due to his outspoken views, he faced numerous challenges including the September 7, 2017, when unknown assailants sprayed 16 times after leaving parliament, as he was heading to his Dodoma home.

After the attack, he was rushed to Dodoma Referral Hospital before being airlifted to a hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.

He spent four months there before being transferred to Belgium for further treatment at the University Hospital Leuven in Gasthuisberg.

In 2020, he returned to Tanzania and ran for president through Chadema in an election that was criticized as unfair and uncredible.

Freeman Mbowe

Freeman Aikaeli Mbowe, born September 14, 1961.

He is a businessman and politician who has served as the party’s national chairman since 2004.

He is one of the founders of Chadema, established in 1992.

His strategic political approach has made him one of the most significant figures in the party, growing it from a small party to the leading opposition party.

He has attracted a large membership and gained parliamentary, councilor, and local government leaders.

He served as the MP for Hai Constituency in Kilimanjaro Region, from 2000 to 2005, and from 2010 to 2020.

In 2005, Mr Mbowe was nominated as Chadema’s presidential candidate.

In that election, Mr Mbowe finished third behind Prof Ibrahim Lipumba of CUF, while the CCM candidate Jakaya Kikwete emerged victorious to become the country’s third phase president.

In July 2021, Mr Mbowe was arrested alongside 10 other Chadema members during a protest staged in Mwanza Region.

The government charged him with terrorism, and he spent almost a year in prison as the charges leveled against him were unbailable according to Tanzania laws.

In March 2022, the government dropped terrorism charges leveled against him leading to his release from prison.

He met President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the Magogoni State House in Dar es Salaam, commencing reconciliation talks between CCM and Chadema.

However, reports made it later that the discussions collapsed later before materializing to something significant.