Tanzania’s main opposition party, Chadema, has named a new leader just months ahead of the country’s October elections.
Freeman Mbowe, who had served as Chadema chairman for over two decades, congratulated his successor, Tundu Lissu, on Wednesday.
“I congratulate Hon. Tundu Lissu and his colleagues on being entrusted with the responsibility of leading the party,” Mbowe posted on X.
This leadership change comes at a time of heightened political repression and internal division within the opposition. Political analysts warn these factors may impact the party’s chances in the upcoming election.
Chadema’s general assembly, which convenes every five years to elect a chairperson, began on Tuesday and continued well into the night.
Lissu, who was the party’s presidential candidate in the 2020 elections, criticized Mbowe for his prolonged tenure at the helm. He pledged to bring reform to Chadema.
A seasoned lawyer, Lissu served as a Member of Parliament from 2010 to 2017, surviving an assassination attempt during that period.
Meanwhile, President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the ruling CCM party has already been nominated as her party’s candidate for this year’s presidential race.
Hassan, who assumed office in 2021 after the death of her predecessor, initially received praise for easing restrictions on the opposition and media. However, criticism has resurfaced as reports of renewed repression grow.
Opposition figures, including Lissu, have warned that unless electoral reforms are made, they will seek to disrupt the election process.
Chadema has yet to announce its candidate for the presidential election, with internal disputes casting doubt on the party’s future strategies.
Political experts suggest that these divisions may hinder Chadema’s ability to rally voter support in the months ahead.