In a surprising turn of events, the candidate for the CHADEMA Youth Council Chairmanship, Shija Shibeshi, announced his withdrawal from the race and endorsed fellow candidate Deogratias Mahinyila amidst a tense live debate in its second hour. The debate, hosted by The Chanzo and Jambo Online on January 11, 2025, at Seashells Hotel, brought together the three aspirants: Masoud Mambo, Advocate Deogratias Mahinyila, and Shija Shibeshi.

In concluding the debate, Advocate Deogratias Mahinyila pleaded with Shibeshi to support his candidacy, emphasizing their shared policy direction and principles.

“I have revealed that I don’t align with any side to allow all youth to relate to me, and I believe youth from all sides support me,” said Mahinyila, a High Court Advocate who ran for the Berege local council in 2020. He clarified that his campaign did not align with either Team Mbowe or Team Lissu.

“My life story, my vision, and my policies are not different from what Tundu Lissu believes in. I could be a candidate who closely resembles Honorable Tundu Lissu in qualities, perspectives, and stance,” Mahinyila pitched to Shibeshi.

Mahinyila added, “I implore him to say, ‘I also support Mahinyila because I believe in what he stands for.’ He should support me because we are fighting for the same cause.”

Responding to Mahinyila, Shibeshi, who had disclosed throughout the debate that he is a supporter of Tundu Lissu, who seeks to unseat the incumbent Freeman Mbowe, affirmed that he would support Mahinyila and withdraw from the race.

“I wouldn’t be running if Deusdedith Soka was here. So I would like to give you this cap inscribed ‘FreeSoka,'” Shibeshi said, handing Mahinyila the cap he was wearing. The inscription referred to the disappearance of Deusdedith Soka, a 29-year-old CHADEMA politician who has been missing since August 18, 2024, following his abduction.

“I ask my supporters to support Mahinyila. I am ready to continue with the struggle even when I am not a leader,” said Shibeshi, a teacher by profession who ran as CHADEMA’s Misungwi parliamentary candidate in 2020.

The conclusion of the debate reflected the atmosphere throughout the two-hour event, where candidates were divided in their support for the two figures vying for the party’s chairmanship: Freeman Mbowe, seeking to continue after holding the post for 21 years, and Tundu Lissu, who aims to change the party’s direction.

Masoud Mambo appeared more aligned with Freeman Mbowe, while Shibeshi openly supported Tundu Lissu. Mahinyila, running on a non-alignment ticket, seemed more inclined toward Lissu’s position while emphasizing the importance of preserving Mbowe’s legacy and ending the harassment of leaders.

At the beginning of the debate, the three candidates agreed that political activity was stagnant within and outside the party. “We are afraid to call out corruption in the party and outside,” Mahinyila argued. Masoud Mambo commented on declining party influence, “We must agree our party’s influence on fellow youth has declined,” attributing this to the closed civic and political space. “Our nation is now facing a crisis of Uchawa (sycophancy); we need firm leaders,” Shibeshi added.

The candidates also discussed Tundu Lissu’s campaign message advocating for reintroducing term limits in the party, a proposal they all supported. However, they disagreed on the reconciliation talks between CHADEMA and the ruling party.

“The reconciliation process has largely shown us that CCM and their government have no good intentions for this nation. Everything discussed during the reconciliation has not been implemented,” Mahinyila argued. “For example, I declared my intention to run in the local government in my home village of Berege, but they disqualified me, claiming they don’t even know me.”

Mahinyila’s arguments were supported by Shibeshi, who claimed the ruling party was manipulating the nation through reconciliation efforts.

“The reconciliation talks have caused a great loss to the party and the nation. They have significantly contributed to the loss of political morale in our country. If the reconciliation were genuine, you wouldn’t see people disappearing or someone being pulled off a bus and killed,” Shibeshi stated.

Masoud Mambo, however, argued that the reconciliation had some limited positive impacts, particularly the release of jailed individuals. “No youth can ignore the impact of reconciliation talks; many people were freed because of reconciliation,” Mambo said.

The three candidates are expected to head to the polls on January 13, 2025.