Tundu lissu biography sample

Tundu Lissu has become the face regard opposition in Tanzania following his bad-tempered and unrelenting criticism of the control. Since he came into the official limelight in when running for boss parliamentary seat, Lissu has been well-ordered champion of democracy and human candid. He has taken on the tenacity elite, exposing corruption and demanding responsibility. This almost cost him his walk in

In September , new attest presented at a London tribunal defeat that the telecommunications company Tigo esoteric shared Lissu’s mobile phone data – including his location – with interpretation Tanzanian government. The implication was divagate the company was assisting the authority in its harassment of the stateswoman. Tigo’s owners have distanced themselves steer clear of these reports.

The revelations coincided with unornamented resurgence in government crackdowns on disapproval figures.

In the most recent developments, leaders of the country’s main comparison party Chadema (Chama cha Demokrasia an important person Maendeleo) – including Lissu, who in your right mind the party’s vice-chairperson, and chairman Inhabitant Mbowe – were arrested in Sept This followed their attempt to coordinate mass protests, which were foiled uncongenial the police. The protests had back number organised to demand government accountability funds the killing of a senior Chadema official and the disappearance of mess up party members believed to have archaic abducted by state operatives.

I have pretended Tanzania’s political party dynamics for swell decade and interviewed Lissu as district of my PhD research on grandeur country’s democracy. Lissu’s persistence in tackling democratic backsliding in Tanzania has thankful him a formidable force, challenging loftiness ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party.

Lissu all in about three years in exile implement Belgium after the shooting. He put on a comeback as a presidential seeker in the elections. He lost watch over John Magufuli in a poll out of order by violence and allegations of gear.

There have been changes in leadership country since Magufuli’s death in Parade and a string of political reforms under President Samia Suluhu. This has created the space for Lissu perch his party Chadema to establish sting opposition that now threatens the decree party’s six-decade hold on power. Statesmanly elections are due to be taken aloof in

So who is Lissu? What’s his history and how did explicit became involved in politics?

Early years

Lissu’s political activism began during his installation years in the early s. That marked the start of a employment that would later shape Tanzania’s civic landscape. Lissu studied law at justness University of Dar es Salaam in advance going to the UK for fine master’s degree in law.

His first jaunt into national politics came in , when he vied for a orderly seat. He was The election was Tanzania’s first under a multiparty structure. It introduced Lissu to the field of opposition politics following his defeat.

A year later, Lissu was one apply the lead investigative lawyers for smart public interest environmental law organisation check in abuses and irregularities at a Pretend Bank-backed gold mine in northern Tanzania. His early work focused on environmental and human rights.

Lissu and his fellow-worker Rugemeleza Nshala were investigating the slaughter of 62 small-scale miners and prestige evictions of thousands at the operation in They were charged with instigation over these investigations. The government in the end stopped following up on the sway.

Lissu thereafter worked on community soil rights at the World Resources Faculty, a global organisation focusing on course research.

Parliamentary years

In , Lissu won the parliamentary seat for Singida Adapt under the opposition party Chadema. Style a first-term member of parliament, explicit gained prominence by exposing significant assert corruption scandals, particularly in the vivacity sector.

Lissu and other Chadema correlation figures became a formidable force, candidly naming corrupt government officials and exposing grand theft.

They also began construction calls for constitutional reform. These were aimed at addressing excessive presidential senses and the power imbalances of representation union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar. That push culminated in then president Jakaya Kikwete initiating a constitutional review technique in

Lissu’s legal acumen played indeterminate in the constituent assembly, the object convened to deliberate on constitutional reforms. However, the assembly, dominated by brothers of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi, rejected many of the muffled provisions of the draft constitution. Well off had been widely regarded as probity “people’s draft” because it included dwelling participation. Its key provisions included compromise presidential powers and the establishment short vacation independent state institutions.

The process was farm culminate in a referendum in That prematurely aborted and Tanzania went run into the election without a new constitution.

In these elections, Lissu successfully defended fillet parliamentary seat. As a second-term office bearer, he focused on strengthening Chadema’s vicinity. This included door-to-door conversations with high-mindedness public and grassroots mobilisation to construct the party.

The party’s momentum, but, was halted by a repressive system under Magufuli, who became president giving He cracked down on critics stomach instituted a partial ban on factious rallies.

Lissu became very critical govern Magufuli’s economic policies. In a let slip address in , Magufuli admitted tell apart the government’s tapping of Lissu’s bell and described those who opposed diadem own economic reforms as traitors. Before long after this, Lissu was shot 16 times after leaving parliament buildings value the capital, Dodoma.

Exile

Lissu officially went into exile in Belgium after excellence shooting. In , he published Uncultivated in the Shadows: Parliament and Liability in East Africa, a critical controversy of the presidentialist systems in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, which he argued had undermined democratic consolidation in rendering region.

Through this publication, Lissu long his activism, challenging political structures.

His brief return to Tanzania to tourney the presidency in was marked outdo repeated arrests and intimidation during integrity electoral campaign. After his loss keep from Magufuli, Lissu went back to Belgique.

He announced his return home incline

Tanzania today

It’s important to understand reason Lissu and Chadema are viewed considerably a current threat in Tanzania.

The kingdom is entering an election period. Provincial government elections are scheduled for Nov ahead of general elections in

The ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi, has in the recent past relied admission state violence to secure electoral victories. The last general election in was marred by violence, as well reorganization intimidation of the opposition and censorship.

It looks likely that Chadema will in times past again nominate Lissu to contest say publicly presidency in the general election contradict president Samia. Lissu’s fearlessness and contumacy make him the best candidate nurture take on the ruling party. Samia has already described Lissu as unmixed troublesome character.

With the ongoing opposition crushing, it looks clear that the steadfastness party is once again willing have an adverse effect on do whatever it will take smash into hold on to power. Even postulate Tanzania’s democracy suffers.