Tundu Lissu Announces Candidacy for Presidencial Race

Tundu Lissu, Vice Chairman of the Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) for Tanzania Mainland, has announced his candidacy for the President of the United Republic of Tanzania in the general elections expected to take place next year (2025).

It is speculated that President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan will be his main opponent in the race.

Speaking to reporters On Friday Evening Of July 26, 2024, at Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) shortly after arriving in the country from a vacation abroad, Lissu stated that he is still determined to run in the election, having done so for the first time in the last general election (2020), where his main opponent was the late Dr. John Pombe Magufuli, who was the CCM candidate and the incumbent president at that time.

Commenting on the current political climate in the country, especially leading up to the local government elections expected to be held later this year (2024) and the general elections next year (2025), Lissu expressed CHADEMA’s readiness to field candidates and seek voter approval when the time comes.

However, he used the opportunity to caution the various authorities overseeing these elections that the party will not tolerate a repeat of the irregularities witnessed in past elections (2020 and 2025) in future elections.

Regarding the alleged conflict within the party involving him (Tundu Lissu, Vice Chairman CHADEMA Tanzania Mainland) and the party’s National Chairman, Freeman Mbowe, Lissu stated that there is no conflict or dispute between them.

He clarified that he has no intention of running for the position of National Chairman in the ongoing internal party elections, as some have claimed.

Additionally, Tundu Lissu addressed the statements made by former CHADEMA member Reverend Peter Msigwa, who recently defected to the Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), particularly concerning allegations about the use of financial resources and governance within CHADEMA. In his response, Lissu said it is normal for a senior leader who leaves to make such accusations.