Lissu set for overseas trip

Arusha. Plans to take Singida East MP Tundu Lissu overseas for further treatment are being finalised, it was revealed on Thursday.

Mr Lissu, who is also the Opposition Chief Whip, has been receiving treatment in Nairobi for the past two months after he sustained multiple gunshot wounds in an assassination attempt in Dodoma on September 7.

He was airlifted to Nairobi from Dodoma Regional Hospital.

Mr Lissu’s brother, Mr Alute Mughwai, told The Citizen that the plans had taken into consideration expert advice by doctors at Nairobi Hospital, and that further treatment would last for at least a month.

“This will be the third phase of his treatment. It will mainly involve physiotherapy. If this stage is not taken seriously, he could end up with permanent disability,” said Mr Mughwai.

He added that Mr Lissu, who is also the Tanganyika Law Society president, would travel aboard a passenger plane instead of an air ambulance. “We shall issue a statement on where and when he will go for further treatment soon after getting advice from the medical team at Nairobi Hospital,” he elaborated.

Hinting on future plans by the firebrand lawmaker, Mr Mughwai said once he is back in the country, he would first travel to Dodoma Regional Hospital to thank the doctors who attended to him after he was shot outside his home.

“He will then visit worship houses for special prayers before the family holds a ritual ceremony at the graveyard of our 76 ancestors who died in the past 200 years,” he said.

Mr Mughwai added that Mr Lissu would then resume his activities as an MP and advocate.

Commenting on the trend of investigations, Mr Mughwai maintained that the family’s stand was that independent institutions should be invited to investigate the incident.

“We have written to the office of the Attorney General asking for an independent institution to investigate the shooting...this has all along been our position and it has not changed,” he said.