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| The Chadema Vice Chairman, Tundu Lissu (left), and the party’s chair, Freeman Mbowe: Photo: Courtesy |
By
Adonis Byemelwa
In a charged discussion that gripped viewers on ITV’s "Dakika 45" on August 26, 2024, Tundu Lissu, the Vice Chairman of the Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), delivered a powerful message about his unwavering commitment to his party’s values. The former presidential candidate's words crackled with intensity as he candidly addressed a crowd eager to hear his take on Chadema’s future.
Lissu’s
assertion that "Chadema is not my mother" reverberated through the
conversation, reflecting a deep-seated belief that the party must adhere to the
principles that initially drew him in. Speaking with equal passion, he
emphasized that if Chadema were to stray from these foundational values, he
would not hesitate to reconsider his allegiance. This declaration, made during
the gripping "Dakika 45" interview, is set to stir significant debate
and recalibrate the political discourse.
Lissu
clarified that his statement wasn’t unprecedented, likening it to former
President Julius Nyerere's remark about CCM not being his mother when he
considered stepping down. He stressed that his words were often misunderstood.
"I didn’t mean I wanted to leave Chadema or start a new party. I merely
stated that Chadema is not my mother. Those who understood me knew exactly what
I meant," Lissu explained.
Addressing
the rumors about him wanting to start his party, Lissu explained that it would
be nearly impossible to establish a new political party under the current
conditions set by the Registrar of Political Parties.
He remarked that the Registrar, under the
current system, seems to wield power to suppress opposition parties, ensuring
they don't thrive in a democratic space, while the ruling party, CCM, has
enjoyed uninterrupted registration since its days as TANU.
"We,
the opposition, are forced to endure endless queues just to register our
parties, while CCM faces no such obstacles. They benefit from a legacy with
TANU, enjoying registration by operation of the law, even if they stray from
their principles. From the time of Judge George Bakari Liundi, Judge John Billy
Tendwa, and now Judge Francis Mutungi since 2013, the pattern has remained the
same—opposition parties have been systematically suppressed. How could I even
start a party when it's evident that Mutungi would never approve its
registration?" Lissu questioned.
He
underlined his unwavering stance in defending the nation's interests, which has
often led to him being quoted out of context, especially when he criticizes the
corruption creeping into Chadema.
"I
won't mince words. Yes, I noticed signs of corruption within my party, which is
why I always insist that Peter Msigwa's concerns, who recently decamped to CCM,
should be addressed with documents. I'm not the treasurer, but those in charge
need to respond with facts and complete data," Lissu stated.
Lissu
pointed out that during regional elections, he witnessed candidates displaying
extraordinary wealth during campaigns, which raised his suspicion that the
funds were not from the party, but obtained through dubious means.
"In
a context where we struggle to raise funds even for transportation to meetings,
seeking help from all quarters because party subsidies alone aren't enough, I
know the party doesn't have this kind of money. So where did these people get
it? I couldn't stay silent; I had to speak out," Lissu clarified.
When
asked if he had ever been bribed, Lissu, who survived an assassination attempt
in September 2017 where he was shot 16 times in broad daylight, revealed that the
President's son, once offered him a large sum of money, which he
rejected. He explained that the money was intended to soften his stance on
speaking out against corrupt government leaders. "I was not being bribed
to leave the party but to tone down my criticism of corrupt government
officials," Lissu emphasized.
Regarding
allegations that Chadema is responsible for inciting violence and disturbing
the peace of the country, Lissu said that their protests have always led to
their leaders being falsely accused and dragged to court, yet not a single case
has ever reached a conclusion or resulted in a conviction.
"We
have been demanding our rights and getting jailed repeatedly. Since the days of
President Mkapa, I've had three cases against me, all of which were baseless.
Then came Kikwete, who imprisoned me several times, but it was President
Magufuli who detained me seven times. Despite this, I'm still the Vice
Chairman, and my fellow members trust me," Lissu explained.
In
all these cases, the judges never found any of Lissu's statements to be
genuinely inflammatory, instead interpreting them as normal political rhetoric
aimed at swaying voters. "You can't speak on a political platform like a
pastor preaching in church. There has to be a clash of ideas, but our opponents
have been interpreting this as incitement. I assure you, even during the fight
for independence, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere used rhetoric that the
colonialists saw as incitement, yet he was still viewed as a politician seeking
influence. This notion of fabricating incitement cases has troubled us greatly,
and it's completely unacceptable," Lissu argued.
When
asked about being labeled a puppet of foreign powers, Lissu dismissed it as a
weak argument, noting that the ruling party, CCM, has long-standing friendships
with communist countries like Cuba, China, and Russia.
"Last year, the Chinese funded the
construction of a college in Kibaha, Coast Region, specifically to train CCM
leaders. But no one calls that foreign interference. If such infrastructure
were funded by Chadema's foreign friends, there would be a huge outcry,"
Lissu said.
Lissu
highlighted that Chadema has foreign friends who have been very supportive,
especially in light of the new law requiring political parties to focus on
gender and special groups. "We've already asked our friends to help us
draft policies that incorporate these issues into our party's operations. And
you saw what happened when we were harassed and beaten by the police in Mbeya
on August 12, 2023. Our friends raised their voices in every corner, and every
embassy was outraged. These are not foreign puppets, but when they stand up for
Chadema, it becomes a problem," Lissu remarked.
Lissu
strongly defended Chadema's internal democracy, emphasizing the fairness of
their elections. "We've always competed fairly—that's why nearly five of
our current zonal leaders are new, having unseated their predecessors through
the ballot," he said.
Dismissing
claims that Chairman Mbowe is unchallenged, Lissu recalled, "Cecil Mwambe,
a former MP for Lindi, ran against Mbowe and lost. He later defected to CCM.
The argument that we keep the same Chairman is very weak. Every party has its
procedures, but you don’t hear anyone criticizing CUF’s Ibrahim Lipumba or from
other parties; it's always Chadema."
Turning
to the issue of party subsidies, Lissu pointed out the disparities in
distribution. "Chadema meets the threshold for subsidies, but look at the
scandal—CCM received 87% of the vote in 2020, and they claim the lion’s share
of the subsidy without question. Chadema’s 17% was deducted, leaving just 5%
for other parties. Where do these 5% funds go?" he questioned.
Lissu
highlighted the uneven playing field, noting, "Any party with at least 5%
support in parliamentary constituencies is eligible for a subsidy, yet CCM
consistently receives the largest share. Meanwhile, smaller parties, which
don’t even meet the threshold, somehow still get funded."
Lissu
also criticized the irregularities in the allocation of special seats in
parliament. "CCM is supposed to have 88 special seats, but they’ve ended
up with 113. Where did these extra seats come from if not through
irregularities in the parliamentary process?" he asked.
Regarding
the upcoming local government elections, Lissu confirmed Chadema's participation
but raised serious concerns about PO-RALG's handling of the process.
"Local elections are incredibly tough," he explained.