Tanzanian opposition politician Godbless Lema returns home from exile to enthusiastic welcome

Tanzanian opposition politician Godbless Lema made a triumphant return home from his exile in Canada on Wednesday, greeted by an enthusiastic crowd.

His return comes at a time when Tanzania is hoping to move on from years of authoritarian rule. Lema, a former member of parliament for the main opposition Chadema party, fled the country in November 2020 after the election was disputed and he received threats to his life.

At the airport, Lema was overwhelmed by the large crowd that had come to welcome him. He expressed his gratitude and stated that he had come back to fight for his country from a better place. Lema’s return comes just a month after another opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, also returned home following an assassination attempt that led to his five-year exile.

Their return was made possible by President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who lifted the ban on political gatherings as a sign of goodwill towards the opposition. Supporters of the Chadema party, dressed in the party’s colours of white, red, and blue, thronged the airport with flags and placards that read “Welcome home son.”

Lema, a fierce critic of the government, lost his seat in parliament along with other opposition MPs in the 2020 elections. Opposition parties had called for street protests against the results, but their leaders, including Lissu, were detained. Lema sought refuge in Kenya with his family before being granted political asylum in Canada.

Under the previous president, John Magufuli, political rallies were banned, and his hard-line policies and uncompromising leadership style damaged Tanzania’s reputation for stable democracy in the region. Since his death in March 2021, President Samia has reversed some of his controversial policies and promised to implement reforms long demanded by the opposition.

However, hopes were dampened when Freeman Mbowe, the Chadema party leader, was arrested on terrorism charges in July 2021.

He was released after seven months, but some critics labeled Hassan a “dictator.” The President met with Lissu in Brussels in early 2022, renewing hopes for change.
The return of opposition leaders to Tanzania is a positive sign of a move towards democracy and a restoration of political freedoms. The government must work towards addressing the concerns of the opposition and fostering an environment that promotes dialogue and collaboration between all parties.

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