By Adonis Byemelwa
Veteran Tanzanian politician and former Chadema Secretary-General, Dr. Wilbroad Slaa (pictured in blue), has made a sensational return to the party after a decade-long absence.
Addressing a charged rally in Mbeya on March 23, 2025, Dr. Slaa thanked party chairman Tundu Lissu and Chadema members for welcoming him back, acknowledging past differences and publicly asking for forgiveness.
“If there was friction, it was between two sides. And when people want to reunite, they must ask for forgiveness. I apologize to my colleagues at Chadema headquarters and members worldwide, including here in Mbeya,” he declared to thunderous applause.
Dr. Slaa wasted no time in reaffirming his commitment to Chadema’s cause, particularly its bold stance on electoral reforms. “Perhaps it is No Reform, No Election that has pulled me back the most. I now have absolute clarity—CCM has no intention of bringing about any meaningful changes,” he stated.
Invoking the words of Tanzania’s founding father, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Dr. Slaa reminded the crowd of the warning that a political party that ignores the voice of the people will be abandoned. “CCM has turned this country into its personal property, plundering national resources while leaving Tanzanians in abject poverty. I am back, and I say—we will fight, we will fight, we will fight!”
Chadema chairman Tundu Lissu, in his address, acknowledged the party’s past friction with Dr. Slaa but emphasized that rejecting him was never an option.
“There were misunderstandings. We argued, we clashed, things got bad. But if today he says he wants to return, how do we say no? We can’t! Dr. Slaa remains the longest-serving Secretary-General in Chadema’s history,” Lissu said.
He reflected on Chadema’s rise under Dr. Slaa’s leadership, recalling how the party’s parliamentary presence skyrocketed. “When I joined Chadema in 2004, we had only five MPs. A few years later, we were 11, then 48, and by 2015, we had 72 MPs, plus 117 from UKAWA. That was a monumental achievement,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, Bishop Benson Bagonza of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania’s Karagwe Diocese has weighed in on the ongoing political controversies, issuing a scathing critique of recent developments.
Speaking via his Facebook account, Bishop Bagonza condemned the alarming trend of religious and political manipulation. “Not long ago, someone compared our President to sacred prophets of two major religions. We called it out for what it was—blasphemy. Now, another one emerges,” he wrote.
Referring to a recent viral video of comedian-turned-politician Burton Mwemba, alias Mwijaku, who filmed himself at the sacred Kaaba in Mecca, Bagonza was unequivocal in his disapproval. “He went there to pray for the President—nothing wrong with that.
But then, he asked for the destruction of all opposition supporters advocating for No Reform, No Election. These are the very people who vote for our President. Is this worship or political tourism?” he questioned.
The bishop also aimed CCM Publicity Secretary Amos Makalla’s inflammatory claims that Chadema is plotting to spread Ebola and M-pox to derail the 2025 elections. “If it were anyone else, they would have been called in by the police. Propaganda is one thing, but this level of fearmongering is another,” he remarked.
Chadema vice-chairman John Heche has since expressed outrage at Makalla’s remarks, vowing to take legal action against him and state-owned newspaper Habari Leo for publishing what he termed as outright falsehoods. “If he does not clarify his words, we will see him in court,” Heche declared.
Bishop Bagonza went on to caution against the state’s increasing reliance on heavy-handed tactics to suppress dissent. “God is not partisan, nor can He be bribed or blackmailed. Let’s stop the blasphemy,” he warned.
He criticized the misuse of sacred sites for political posturing. “Even those of us who are not Muslim respect the Kaaba. We may not fully understand it, but we know it is not a place for theatrics, cameras, and political grudges.”
Turning his focus to the electoral landscape, Bagonza reminded politicians that no presidential candidate can win solely on party, religion, tribe, or gender. “Politics is about persuasion, not tricks.”
His warning was stark: “When police trucks are used to transport voters today, tomorrow they will be used to transport ballot boxes. And before long, they will be used to decide elections by force.”
Urging CCM to abandon its culture of paranoia, he stressed that victory is possible without intimidation. “They have the strength to win fairly—why the fear? Instead of fueling chaos, they should embrace electoral reforms.”
Concluding his message, Bagonza lamented that political influence has shifted towards hardliners due to government heavy-handedness. “The more the state relies on force, the more it empowers radicals—whether within CCM or the opposition. We had a chance to fix this before, but now we are at a crossroads. Fools believe bullets and bombs will solve the problem. But in my view, oppression only fuels resistance.” His final plea? “Return to the table. No tricks, no games—just dialogue.”
