[AFP]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Prominent Tanzanian politician Tundu Lissu has been elected chairman of the main opposition party Chadema, ousting long-running leader Freeman Mbowe in an intense race.<\/p>\n
Lissu campaigned for changes in the party leadership while criticising the way it was being run, amid heated exchanges that were seen as exposing internal divisions.<\/p>\n
He accused Mbowe of having changed, and being too reconciliatory towards the CCM party that has been power since independence, which he said had made people lose trust in Chadema.<\/p>\n
Mbowe, the party’s chairman for more than 20 years, campaigned on grounds that he still had more work to do to strengthen the party.<\/p>\n
He accused Lissu of making accusations against him without providing any evidence.<\/p>\n
The party’s elections, which concluded on Wednesday morning, were seen as defining the party’s direction, with presidential elections due in October this year.<\/p>\n
Mbowe has conceded the loss, posting on his X account that he “wholly accepted the decision of the party’s assembly” alongside a photo of himself and Lissu.<\/p>\n
“I congratulate Tundu Lissu and his colleagues for being trusted to take the responsibility of the party leadership. I wish them all the best in moving our party forward,” he said.<\/p>\n
In a closely fought election, Lissu garnered 513 votes (51.5%) against Mbowe’s 482 (48.3%).<\/p>\n
As he was declared the winner, Lissu said the party had set the standard for internal democracy and called on other political parties in the country to follow their example.<\/p>\n
Lissu is known for his fiery brand of politics that has often put him in heated arguments with fellow politicians, especially those from the ruling party.<\/p>\n
He survived an assassination attempt in 2017 during President John Magufuli’s administration. He had more than 20 operations in hospitals abroad after having been shot at least 16 times.<\/p>\n
He briefly returned in 2020 but lost to Magufuli in that year’s president election.<\/p>\n
Lissu then spent years in exile until he returned in 2023, after President Samia Suluhu Hassan had taken over following Magufuli’s death in 2021.<\/p>\n
He has since accused President Samia of repression against critics similar to that of the Magufuli era.<\/p>\n
He has also strongly spoken out against human rights violations and recent abductions and disappearances of citizens, including opposition officials.<\/p>\n
Lissu himself and other opposition politicians have been arrested in recent months amid a government crackdown on opposition demonstrations.<\/p>\n
During the party contest, he framed himself as a fearless leader and his win is seen as a shift in the party’s direction to offer a strong challenge to the government as the country gears towards elections later this year.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, President Samia was unanimously nominated as the presidential candidate of her ruling CCM party.<\/p>\n
Chadema has not yet selected its candidate.<\/p>\n
Tanzanian analyst Nicodemus Minde told the BBC that it was likely that either Lissu or Mbowe would be the party’s flag-bearer if there was no fallout after the party’s election.<\/p>\n