Lissu’s critics argue that his disclosure about Wenje is an “afterthought. Photo: Courtesy
By Adonis Byemelwa
Tanzania is gripped by a political firestorm as Tundu Lissu, the outspoken Vice Chairman of Chadema for Mainland Tanzania, drops bombshell allegations against Abdul, the son of President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
According to Lissu, Abdul brazenly attempted to bribe him—a claim first revealed during a fiery rally in Iringa this past May and reiterated in subsequent gatherings.
With the nation now abuzz, Lissu’s refusal of the alleged overture has sparked intense public debate, putting the presidency under an uncomfortable spotlight. The story has ignited passions across the country, raising questions about ethics, power, and the battle for Tanzania's political soul.
What remains unclear, however, is the purpose behind this alleged bribe. Lissu’s revelations come amid persistent murmurs that some Chadema leaders have been “sweetened” since the party reached a political reconciliation with the ruling CCM in 2022. The main figure accused of benefiting from these so-called “sweets” is Chadema Chairman Freeman Mbowe.
During a January 21, 2023 rally at Furahisha grounds in Mwanza, Mbowe defended the reconciliation, acknowledging internal dissent within the party.
Some have linked Lissu’s comments about rejecting Abdul’s bribe to a broader narrative aimed at distinguishing himself as incorruptible—unlike others who allegedly succumbed to such inducements. While Lissu didn’t name Mbowe directly, the implication is hard to ignore.
Mbowe’s endorsement of reconciliation has been both his badge of honor and his Achilles heel. The political détente led to the dropping of all politically motivated cases, the reopening of public rallies, and the return of exiled politicians. Critics ask, how can one disparage such achievements?
Many forget that Mbowe spent seven months in jail before being freed in March 2022, paving the way for reconciliation.
He had been accused of terrorism, arrested on July 21, 2021, and released on March 4, 2022. Was his support for reconciliation a result of succumbing to inducements? Or was it a pragmatic move to restore political stability?
The debate over Abdul’s alleged bribe remains contentious. Lissu has hinted at broader motives but initially refrained from naming anyone specific. It wasn’t until the Chadema leadership race intensified that he accused Ezekiah Wenje, the party’s Lake Zone Chairman, of facilitating Abdul’s visit.
“The person who brought Abdul to my home to offer me a bribe has declared his candidacy for Vice Chairman and has publicly pledged his support for Mbowe,” Lissu said. The timing raises questions: why did Lissu withhold Wenje’s name until now? Was it strategic silence? Or was it leverage in case of betrayal?
Lissu’s critics argue that his disclosure about Wenje is an “afterthought”—a reaction to Wenje’s alignment with Mbowe in the leadership race.
Whether true or not, this insinuation has added fuel to the party’s internal turmoil. Wenje, for his part, denies the bribery allegations but admits to facilitating Abdul’s introduction to Lissu under different circumstances.
“I met Abdul at a public event and questioned him directly about why his mother’s government had not settled Lissu’s medical bills,” Wenje stated, referencing the attack on Lissu in September 2017 when he was shot multiple times. Wenje’s version portrays Abdul as a neutral party rather than an emissary of corruption.
The medical bill issue remains a contentious chapter in Lissu’s political narrative. After the attack, Lissu was rushed to Nairobi’s Aga Khan Hospital instead of Tanzania’s Muhimbili National Hospital, bypassing standard protocols.
The government cited security concerns, fearing his attackers might pursue him to Muhimbili. Consequently, a nationwide fundraising campaign was launched to cover Lissu’s medical expenses, with significant contributions from Tanzanians at home and abroad. Yet, questions persist about how those funds were managed.
“If the funds raised covered Lissu’s treatment, why is the government still being asked to pay?” one political observer noted. This lingering ambiguity fuels skepticism about Lissu’s financial claims.
Wenje’s defense highlights Abdul’s willingness to accompany him to Lissu’s home to discuss the medical bills. “Abdul is a gentleman. He didn’t have to entertain this issue, but he did,” Wenje remarked, deflecting accusations of bribery.
Critics, however, question why Abdul, who holds no official government role, was involved in such discussions.
This saga has left many Chadema supporters torn. “Who should we believe, Lissu or Wenje?” asked a coffee shop patron in Kariakoo. For some, Wenje’s straightforward narrative carries more weight than Lissu’s layered accusations.
The internal conflict has also spilled onto social media. Prominent lawyer and activist Peter Madeleka sided with Lissu, questioning Chadema’s consistency.
“If Lissu was deemed fit to run for president in 2020, how can the same party now claim he’s unfit for chairmanship?” Madeleka argued. Former Arusha MP Godbless Lema echoed similar concerns, warning that failure to address internal divisions could lead to the party’s demise.
Meanwhile, former President Jakaya Kikwete’s resurfaced remarks on Twitter added another dimension. “Dr. Slaa would have been a better presidential candidate than Lissu,” Kikwete once said, describing Lissu’s fiery rhetoric as divisive. This sentiment reflects the broader challenges within Chadema as it navigates leadership transitions.
Fatma Karume, a renowned lawyer and human rights activist, has also weighed in, urging Mbowe to step aside. “If Mbowe wants to leave a legacy, he should pave the way for fresh blood to lead the party,” Karume stated, underscoring the need for generational change.
Political analysts in Shinyanga believe Lissu’s central Tanzania roots and his history as Singida East MP could help Chadema shed its “Northern party” label. “A free and fair election could position Lissu as the next chairman,” they contend, provided internal factions do not undermine the process.
Others argue that Lissu’s candidacy could revitalize the party’s national appeal. “If he’s trusted to carry the party’s presidential banner twice, denying him the chairmanship now creates unnecessary contradictions,” Madeleka noted.
Nevertheless, some Chadema insiders remain wary of Lissu’s motives. Yericko Nyerere, a vocal party member, has accused Lissu of being power-hungry and divisive. Yet, critics have unearthed past tweets where Nyerere praised Lissu as a “patriotic and loyal Tanzanian.” This contradiction prompted retired lecturer Dr. Azaveri Lwaitama to dismiss Nyerere as “unreliable,” likening his narratives to “fictional propaganda.”
The Chadema leadership race has become a battlefield of alliances and accusations. Even external observers, such as Kagera’s UVCCM Chairman Faris Buruhan, have weighed in. Buruhan mocked Chadema for clinging to long-serving leaders like Mbowe, questioning the opposition’s credibility as a model of democracy.
As the party heads toward its January 2025 elections, the stakes have never been higher. Whether Lissu’s claims of bribery, Wenje’s denials, or Mbowe’s reconciliation efforts dominate the discourse, Chadema’s future hinges on its ability to navigate these turbulent waters. Only time will reveal whether the party emerges stronger or succumbs to internal divisions.