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| Fiery Tanzanian politician Tundu Lissu elected to head opposition party | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Prominent Tanzanian politician Tundu Lissu has been elected chairman of the main opposition party Chadema, ousting long-running leader Freeman Mbowe in an intense race. | Prominent Tanzanian politician Tundu Lissu has been elected chairman of the main opposition party Chadema, ousting long-running leader Freeman Mbowe in an intense race. |
| Lissu campaigned for changes in the party leadership while criticising the way it was being run, amid heated exchanges that were seen as exposing internal divisions. | Lissu campaigned for changes in the party leadership while criticising the way it was being run, amid heated exchanges that were seen as exposing internal divisions. |
| He accused Mbowe of having changed, and being too reconciliatory towards the CCM party that has been power since independence, which he said had made people lose trust in Chadema. | He accused Mbowe of having changed, and being too reconciliatory towards the CCM party that has been power since independence, which he said had made people lose trust in Chadema. |
| Mbowe, the party's chairman for more than 20 years, campaigned on grounds that he still had more work to do to strengthen the party. | Mbowe, the party's chairman for more than 20 years, campaigned on grounds that he still had more work to do to strengthen the party. |
| He accused Lissu of making accusations against him without providing any evidence. | He accused Lissu of making accusations against him without providing any evidence. |
| The party's elections, which concluded on Wednesday morning, were seen as defining the party's direction, with presidential elections due in October this year. | The party's elections, which concluded on Wednesday morning, were seen as defining the party's direction, with presidential elections due in October this year. |
| Why Samia's hesitant reforms are fuelling Tanzanian political anger | Why Samia's hesitant reforms are fuelling Tanzanian political anger |
| Mbowe has conceded the loss, posting on his X account that he "wholly accepted the decision of the party's assembly" alongside a photo of himself and Lissu. | Mbowe has conceded the loss, posting on his X account that he "wholly accepted the decision of the party's assembly" alongside a photo of himself and Lissu. |
| "I congratulate Tundu Lissu and his colleagues for being trusted to take the responsibility of the party leadership. I wish them all the best in moving our party forward," he said. | "I congratulate Tundu Lissu and his colleagues for being trusted to take the responsibility of the party leadership. I wish them all the best in moving our party forward," he said. |
| In a closely fought election, Lissu garnered 513 votes (51.5%) against Mbowe's 482 (48.3%). | In a closely fought election, Lissu garnered 513 votes (51.5%) against Mbowe's 482 (48.3%). |
| As he was declared the winner, Lissu said the party had set the standard for internal democracy and called on other political parties in the country to follow their example. | As he was declared the winner, Lissu said the party had set the standard for internal democracy and called on other political parties in the country to follow their example. |
| Lissu is known for his fiery brand of politics that has often put him in heated arguments with fellow politicians, especially those from the ruling party. | Lissu is known for his fiery brand of politics that has often put him in heated arguments with fellow politicians, especially those from the ruling party. |
| He survived an assassination attempt in 2017 during President John Magufuli's administration. He had more than 20 operations in hospitals abroad after having been shot at least 16 times. | He survived an assassination attempt in 2017 during President John Magufuli's administration. He had more than 20 operations in hospitals abroad after having been shot at least 16 times. |
| He briefly returned in 2020 but lost to Magufuli in that year's president election. | He briefly returned in 2020 but lost to Magufuli in that year's president election. |
| Lissu then spent years in exile until he returned in 2023, after President Samia Suluhu Hassan had taken over following Magufuli's death in 2021. | Lissu then spent years in exile until he returned in 2023, after President Samia Suluhu Hassan had taken over following Magufuli's death in 2021. |
| He has since accused President Samia of repression against critics similar to that of the Magufuli era. | He has since accused President Samia of repression against critics similar to that of the Magufuli era. |
| He has also strongly spoken out against human rights violations and recent abductions and disappearances of citizens, including opposition officials. | He has also strongly spoken out against human rights violations and recent abductions and disappearances of citizens, including opposition officials. |
| Lissu himself and other opposition politicians have been arrested in recent months amid a government crackdown on opposition demonstrations. | Lissu himself and other opposition politicians have been arrested in recent months amid a government crackdown on opposition demonstrations. |
| During the party contest, he framed himself as a fearless leader and his win is seen as a shift in the party's direction to offer a strong challenge to the government as the country gears towards elections later this year. | During the party contest, he framed himself as a fearless leader and his win is seen as a shift in the party's direction to offer a strong challenge to the government as the country gears towards elections later this year. |
| On Sunday, President Samia was unanimously nominated as the presidential candidate of her ruling CCM party. | On Sunday, President Samia was unanimously nominated as the presidential candidate of her ruling CCM party. |
| Chadema has not yet selected its candidate. | Chadema has not yet selected its candidate. |
| Tanzanian analyst Nicodemus Minde told the BBC that it was likely that either Lissu or Mbowe would be the party's flag-bearer if there was no fallout after the party's election. | Tanzanian analyst Nicodemus Minde told the BBC that it was likely that either Lissu or Mbowe would be the party's flag-bearer if there was no fallout after the party's election. |
| You may also be interested in: | You may also be interested in: |
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| All aboard Tanzania's sparkling new railway | |
| The Tanzanians searching for their grandfathers' skulls in Germany | The Tanzanians searching for their grandfathers' skulls in Germany |
| John Magufuli: The cautionary tale of the president who denied coronavirus | John Magufuli: The cautionary tale of the president who denied coronavirus |
| A quick guide to Tanzania | A quick guide to Tanzania |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, external, on Facebook at BBC Africa, external or on Instagram at bbcafrica, external | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, external, on Facebook at BBC Africa, external or on Instagram at bbcafrica, external |