WHEN Tundu Lissu won CHADEMA’s national chairmanship in a bruising contest against Freeman Mbowe on the 21st of January 2025, many hoped for a revitalized opposition movement capable of challenging Tanzania’s entrenched ruling party, CCM. Instead, Lissu’s tenure has plunged CHADEMA into deeper disarray, leaving the party fractured, uncertain, and increasingly irrelevant at a critical juncture.
In the lead-up to his narrow victory – 513 votes against Mbowe’s 482 – Lissu’s campaign was marked by accusations and insinuations. By spreading narratives that Mbowe had been “compromised” by President Samia Suluhu’s administration – without providing concrete evidence – Lissu’s camp sowed seeds of distrust within the party. Though Mbowe maintained a composed, dignified approach, calling for civil campaigns, the damage was irreversible.
Rather than mending the fractures after his win, Lissu’s leadership choices further alienated sections of the party. His militant strategy – including the controversial decision to boycott the October 2025 general elections – has ignited a rebellion within CHADEMA’s ranks, led by a growing dissenting faction known as the G-55.
Comprising seasoned CHADEMA members and strategists, the G-55 has openly criticized Lissu’s approach, accusing him of steering the party dangerously away from its political mandate. They argue that under Lissu’s leadership, CHADEMA risks devolving into a mere pressure group or NGO rather than a viable political contender. By opting to abstain from elections, they contend, Lissu is not resisting the state, but he is paving a smooth, uncontested path for President Samia’s re-election.
The G-55 also questions the rationale behind Lissu’s repeated claims that participating in elections would inevitably lead to “unnecessary torture and killings.” To them, Lissu’s posture of obstruction, calling on members to boycott or disrupt electoral processes, dangerously pits CHADEMA supporters against state apparatuses without any concrete protective strategy – an irresponsible gamble in a country where political repression remains a real threat.
Insiders further suggest a more practical, unspoken reason behind the militant posture and boycotting the election – CHADEMA’s severe shortage of financial resources. With dwindling fundraising abilities and donor fatigue setting in, the party reportedly lacks the means to mount a credible national campaign – making abstention a face-saving strategy disguised as a moral stand.
The consequences are stark. CHADEMA, once Tanzania’s most potent opposition force, is increasingly paralyzed by internal battles. The broader opposition landscape suffers accordingly – divided, disillusioned, and unable to pose a serious challenge to CCM’s dominance.
In this political climate, the ruling party faces little resistance as it maneuvers toward an unchallenged grip on power. This way, democracy in Tanzania, already battered over years of authoritarian drift, faces another blow – not just from external repression, but from self-inflicted wounds within the opposition itself.
Obviously, Lissu is currently Tanzania’s most popular politician. His following is so fervent that many of his supporters accept his words as truth, even in the absence of evidence. He has skillfully leveraged this popularity to overpower political opponents. With his fiery rhetoric, he commands deep respect among the youth and disillusioned citizens who believe that strong, confrontational language might force the government to implement change.
His election as Chadema chairman sparked a sense of renewal among his supporters, many of whom view him as a “savior.” Since facing a treason case, Lissu’s popularity has only soared further. However, this popularity does not necessarily translate into solid or strategic leadership. His impulsive nature continues to shape the political direction of his party, often resulting in confrontational tactics.
Historically, violent strategies employed by his party have led to police crackdowns, arrests, and injuries among opposition supporters – outcomes that have further tarnished the image of the CCM-led government as authoritarian. Nonetheless, no one expects Lissu’s supporters to overpower security forces through violence. Consequently, some analysts view his recent calls to obstruct the general election as immature and counterproductive.
Leadership demands more than fiery speeches and militant rhetoric. It requires vision, pragmatism, and above all, unity. In these respects, Tundu Lissu’s early months at the helm have proven disastrous – for CHADEMA, for the opposition movement, and for the fragile hope of democratic renewal in Tanzania.
As CHADEMA tears itself apart, the question remains. Can the party rebuild before it fades into irrelevance – or has the damage already been done?
