Tag Archives: Tanzania opposition leader Tundu Lissu

Politics, Regional

Tanzania in political tension as Samia Suluhu weighs possible deal with Tundu Lissu

Burnett Munthali

….Presidential ambitions and opposition negotiations raise stakes in the East African nation

Developing reports indicate that people close to President Samia Suluhu suggest she is considering a handshake deal with jailed opposition leader Tundu Lissu.

The potential agreement is reportedly aimed at helping to salvage the political situation in Tanzania, which has been tense following the recent disputed election.

Insiders say that the tricky part of any deal is that President Suluhu wants to be officially announced as president before any negotiations with Lissu are made public.

Her advisers, however, are warning that making such a declaration first could further inflame an already volatile political climate.

Tensions remain high across the country, with opposition supporters and civil society groups expressing concern over fairness and transparency in governance.

Observers note that the outcome of any deal between President Suluhu and Lissu could have far-reaching implications for national stability and political reconciliation in Tanzania.

As the situation develops, political analysts are closely monitoring how the timing and announcement of leadership decisions may impact public sentiment and international relations.

Lifestyle

Tanzania opposition leader Tundu Lissu to be remanded for 14 more days

Maravi Post Reporter

The embattled Tanzanian main opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, will remain in remand for 14 more days pending further investigations.

The Police and the state prosecutors requested the Kisutu Magistrates Court to allow them more time to conclude their investigations.

The court granted them two more weeks until June 2, when the case will be heard again. It was the first time Lissu appeared in person for the mention as he previously attended sessions virtually.

The defence team, led by the Senior Counsel Mpale Mpoki, objected to the application, citing infringement of Lissu’s fundamental rights. They made several other applications with one questioning why the prosecuting teams were not able to move on with the case despite all evidence being available and accessible to everyone.

Lissu’s team also claimed that their client was being placed under unnecessary heavy police supervision and that he was just an accused and not a threat to anyone in court.

Opposition leader Tundu Lissu was arrested on April 9 after calling for electoral reforms before a general election in October and was charged with treason, a charge for which bail isn’t available.

Lissu’s party, Chadema, has been outspoken about electoral reforms, arrests and detentions of opposition politicians before the vote in which President Samia Suluhu Hassan is seeking election after serving out her predecessor’s term in office.

Human rights activists have accused the government of Hassan of heavy-handed tactics against the opposition. The government denies the claims.

In 2017, three years before the last election, Lissu survived an assassination attempt after being shot 16 times. His party has been critical of laws that favor the ruling CCM party, which has been in power since Tanzania’s independence in 1961.

Source: Africanews

Politics

Tanzania main opposition parties demand fresh vote; Set for demos against Magufuli re-elections

Lloyd M’bwana
John Magufuli delivers a speech in Dodoma, Tanzania, on 29 August 2020
John Magufuli won 84% of the vote, according to the election commission

DODOMA-(MaraviPost)-Tanzania’s two main opposition parties have demanded fresh elections, after denouncing last week’s presidential vote as fraudulent.

The Chadema and ACT-Wazalendo parties, in a joint news conference, also called for mass protests from Monday, November 2, 2020. .

Incumbent President John Magufuli was declared victor in Wednesday’s election with 84% of the vote.

Chadema alleges ballot boxes were tampered with after its agents were stopped from entering polling stations.

“We first call for fresh elections as soon as possible,” the party’s chairman, Freeman Mbowe, said on Saturday. “We call for continuous, peaceful, countrywide demonstrations until our demands are met.”

ACT-Wazalendo leader Zitto Kabwe said the decision was for “the future of our country”.

“We cannot accept going back to a one-party system,” he added.

Tundu Lissu – Chadema’s candidate for president and Magufuli’s main rival – won just 13% of the vote.

He said on Thursday it “was not an election by both Tanzanian and international laws. It was just a gang of people who have just decided to misuse state machinery to cling to power”.

Opposition presidential candidate Tundu Lissu on 7 October 2020
Tundu Lissu said there had been widespread fraud and intimidation

According to BBC, the head of the National Electoral Commission, Semistocles Kaijage, said allegations of fake ballot papers were unsubstantiated.

An observer mission from the East African Community said the election was “conducted in a regular manner” but the US embassy in Dar es Salaam said that “irregularities and the overwhelming margins of victory raise serious doubts about the credibility of the results… as well as concerns about the government of Tanzania’s commitment to democratic values”.

Mr Magufuli has been president since 2015 but his CCM party has been in power since independence in 1961.