Lissu attack overshadows TZ politics

Dar es Salaam. Tanzanian politics have been about nothing else but Tundu Lissu in the past two weeks.

The outspoken MP, who represents the Singida East constituency on Chadema’s ticket, was seriously wounded when gunmen sprayed several rounds of ammunition on his car on September 7 in Dodoma as he was arriving at his house from Parliament. He was airlifted to Nairobi Hospital where he is still recuperating.

Lissu’s shooting has, since then, cast a long shadow on Tanzania’s politics, touching on the fracture lines and renewing a debate on some essential issues of separation of power and political rights that have long been hot and sensitive topics in the Tanzanian political discourse.

Some commentators in both the mainstream and social media argue that Lissu’s shooting has made his image larger than life in local politics.

As President John Magufuli’s nemesis, out of which he was frequently arrested and charged in court, Mr Lissu might fit the narrative of a courageous political hero who speaks truth to power no matter what, the commentators continue to argue.

But other commentators are of the view that Mr Lissu’s shooting has dominated the political discourse in the past fortnight because the opposition has grabbed the opportunity to turn it into a reflection of the Tanzanian democracy.

Gloomy Parliament

For obvious reasons legislators, from across the aisle, were affected most by the shooting of Mr Lissu. The mood in parliament, whose session ended on September 15, became visibly gloomy from the day the firebrand lawmaker was shot.

Members of Parliament from both the ruling party and the opposition seemed shocked. Some, rightly, doubted whether their safety was guaranteed after what had happened to Lissu.

Nape Nnauye (Mtama-CCM) wondered why action has not been taken against owners of vehicles that were reported trailing some legislators.

“Lissu had complained, in several occasions, about a vehicle that was trailing him. Other MPs and I, have also been trailed by the same vehicle. My concern is that no action is being taken by authorities. This shows that no one is safe,” Nape, former minister for information said.

The minister for Home Affairs, Mr Mwigulu Nchemba also articulated MPs frustrations over Lissu’s shooting by characterising the incident as ‘unTanzanian’; “I condemn this attack. Whatever the reasons for the attack, it is unTanzanian. If the attack is politically motivated, we are not used to such kind of politics…,” he said.

Ms Bona Kalua (Segerea-CCM) also echoed Mr Nchemba’s words: “I have been shocked by what happened to Lissu. I condemn it in the strongest terms. If it is politics, we are not used to that kind of politics. We, Tanzanians, are used to conducting our politics peacefully,” she said.

The day after Lissu’s attack, Hussein Bashe (Nzega Urban-CCM) urged the Speaker of Parliament, Job Ndugai to order the Parliamentary Defense and Security Select Committee to consult security and defense forces chiefs on the state of country’s security.

“The situation as it is now shows that no one is safe,” Mr Bashe.

The Speaker ordered the committee to meet defense and security forces chiefs and table a report by September 15. But it failed to do so with the chairman of the committee Mr Adadi Rajabu (Muheza-CCM) asking for more time.

Mr Ndugai, observed, sadly, when he was officially briefing MPs on Lissu’s attack on September 8 that it was the first time an MP had been shot in broad daylight since the Parliament started seating in Dodoma.

“This is the first time in the history of the parliament, at least since it started its sessions in Dodoma, that an MP has be shot at…,” Mr Ndugai told MPs on September 8, as he was briefing the house on Lissu’s health condition.

And speaking after the Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa had moved a motion to adjourn the Parliament on September 15, Mr Ndugai advised the MPs and their families to be cautious and vigilant.

“Take care of your safety and that of your families. Those of you who are used to going back home late at night try to return early and be cautious about your acquaintances,” Mr Ndugai advised.

New Chief Justice

Lissu’s shadow also loomed large on September 11 during the swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief Justice Prof Ibrahim Juma.

Almost all of those who spoke used much energy defending President Magufuli’s decision to let Prof Juma continue to serve as acting Chief Justice for nine months.

The minister for Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Prof Palamagamba Kabudi, who attended the swearing-in, cited some other countries who have had acting Chief Justice, arguing that it was not unique.

It was Mr Lissu, who was vocal, criticizing President Magufuli for the failure to confirm Prof Juma to the position.

Mr Lissu’s name, however, was not mentioned by all those who defended the President for the decision.

President Magufuli complained about those who were criticising his decision to keep Prof Juma as acting CJ.

“A lot was said about my delay to confirm Prof Juma. But it was said by people who did not know what they were talking about. The constitution allows me to appoint a Chief Justice in an acting capacity. However, I also took my time to confirm him because I wanted someone who would last long in office,” President Magufuli said.

Three pillars of the state

In the past week, due to events not entirely unrelated to Lissu’s shooting, the debate on separation of powers has rejuvenated.

Mr Lissu and other MPs have been among the most critical voices in this debate. However, the debate spiralled into arrests and questioning of two opposition MPs, Zitto Kabwe (Kigoma Urban-ACT) and Saed Kubenea (Ubungo-Chadema) by the Parliamentary Privileges, Ethics and Powers Committee.

The Speaker ordered the two MPs to appear before the committee for alleging that he was a weak leader of a key pillar of the state who failed to assert its authority and independence.

“Zitto is accusing me of being a weak leader. Worse still he is comparing me with my predecessors who are the people that I respect the most. He does not know that I can ban him from speaking in this House till the end of his five-year term in parliament,” Mr Ndugai noted.

The debate on separate of power was also inspired by the Supreme Court of Kenya’s decision to annul the presidential election results.