Mbowe, Lissu officially locked in Chadema chairmanship battle
What you need to know:
- This development came shortly after Mbowe's announcement on Wednesday, December 19, when he told the press that he would take 48 hours to consider his political future.
Dar es Salaam. Chadema Chairman Freeman Mbowe has announced his intention to seek re-election, officially setting up for a contest with his Vice Chairman for Tanzania Mainland, Tundu Lissu.
Mr Lissu, who declared his bid for the chairmanship on December 12, 2024, collected his nomination forms on December 17 and returned them the following day.
This development came shortly after Mbowe's announcement on Wednesday, December 19, when he told the press that he would take 48 hours to consider his political future.
On Saturday, December 21, 2024, Mr Mbowe confirmed his re-election bid at a press conference with journalists at his Mikocheni residence in Dar es Salaam.
He stated that he would collect his nomination forms immediately after the meeting.
"I am in; I will be in the election," Mbowe declared, calling for peaceful and civilized campaigns.
He urged fellow candidates to avoid abusive politics and emphasized the importance of protecting the party’s reputation and unity.
“There is life after the elections,” he said, stressing the need for a constructive and respectful campaign environment.
Chadema is set to hold its intra-party elections in January 2025 to choose the national chairman and vice chairmen for both Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.
Mr Mbowe’s announcement ends weeks of speculation regarding his political fate and signals a key moment for the party as it prepares for the upcoming elections.
During his address, Mr Mbowe also reflected on his leadership and the role of negotiation in the party's recent developments.
He highlighted the importance of dialogue with the government and credited negotiations with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration for significant political achievements.
Mr Mbowe noted that these talks led to the return of several political figures, including key individuals like Lissu, Godbless Lema, and Ezekiah Wenje, who had fled the country.
“Thanks to negotiations, we’ve resolved over 462 cases, except two in Njombe and Kibaha,” he said.
Furthermore, Mr Mbowe emphasised that the negotiations had brought about positive changes for Chadema and its followers, even though certain issues, such as reinstating the new constitution writing process and endorsement of new voting systems, had not been addressed.
He acknowledged that while he was committed to Chadema, he would step down from his position if the party's members decided they no longer wanted him.
In response to Mbowe's leadership, Chadema member Mr Yoram Seti expressed support, praising Mbowe's resilience and sacrifices for the party.
“Over the years, Mbowe has struggled through difficult times to ensure Chadema remains strong. We still need his leadership and vision to guide the party forward,” Seti remarked.
As the contest for Chadema’s leadership intensifies, all eyes will be on the January 2025 elections, where party members will decide their next leader.
