Lissu Calls for New Leadership and Democratic Reforms

Tundu Lissu, the Vice Chairman of CHADEMA, is calling for a fresh approach in leadership as he aims for the party’s national chairmanship.

In a recent interview with Voice of America (VOA), Lissu explained the need for a change in leadership to help Tanzania move past its current political standstill.

Lissu expressed that CHADEMA requires new leadership that can break the political gridlock in the country. He highlighted the ongoing two-year dialogue between the opposition and President Samia Suluhu Hassan, which he believes has yielded no real progress. According to Lissu, it is now time for the people to rise through a “Mass Mobilization” initiative, with the support of civil society organizations and other political parties, to push for the necessary democratic reforms.

“We need profound democratic changes to overhaul the leadership system,” Lissu stated firmly.

Addressing his differences with the current CHADEMA leader, Freeman Mbowe, Lissu acknowledged that there are fundamental disagreements on how to move the party forward. He criticized the party’s current leadership for its failure to address critical national issues, such as the abductions and killings of party members.

“The party is stuck because the leadership seems reluctant to challenge the government,” Lissu said.

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Lissu also addressed CHADEMA’s position on future elections. He made it clear that the party will not participate in any upcoming elections unless there are significant reforms to the electoral process. Referring to the recent local government elections, Lissu called them “disasters” due to widespread fraudulent practices.

“We are firm on ‘No Reforms, No Election.’ We must secure changes before engaging in any elections,” he emphasized.

Beyond the national stage, Lissu called for internal reforms within CHADEMA. He stressed that the party needs to clean up its own house in order to effectively address the external challenges facing Tanzania. Lissu made it clear that without this internal transformation, CHADEMA will struggle to be a strong enough force for political change.