The former Chairperson of the opposition party CHADEMA, Freeman Mbowe, broke his long political silence by appearing at the launch of Tanzania Vision 2050, where he also took a moment to answer questions from journalists.
His appearance and engagement at the Vision 2050 event have sparked widespread debate on social media. A key point of discussion was his photo opportunity with the President. While other attendees were invited in groups, Mbowe had a rare moment that included both a photograph and an exchange of greetings with the President.
Mbowe told reporters that he had been invited to the event and saw no reason not to attend, emphasizing that he wishes for a better Tanzania tomorrow. Speaking to the press afterward, he offered only a few remarks and declined to comment on CHADEMA’s “No reform, no election” stance, saying he is “just a member” and that “leaders should be sought” for such statements. In his comments regarding Vision 2050, Mbowe stressed the importance of acknowledging past mistakes.
“Whenever a nation is trying to find its direction, the first place to start is by asking, ‘Where did we go wrong?’ If there is no confession about where we went wrong and there is no genuine will from the heart to correct it, then questioning millions of people while you, who are entrusted with responsibility, lack political will, it’s a non-starter,” Mbowe said.
He continued: “There is a large group of Tanzanians who firmly believe that our elections are neither free nor fair. There is also a large group of Tanzanians who believe that the multi-party system, in these past 25 years, has declined rather than flourished. So, when you see a vision document stating that we have done very well in building democracy, you start to see that we are politicizing very fundamental issues concerning the bright future of our nation.”
These remarks from him have not caught the attention of many people, but much of the conversation has focused on what he didn’t say. Some members of his own party questioned why he had never been seen attending court during the treason case facing the current CHADEMA Chairman, and his refusal to comment on the party’s stance.
Mbowe’s appearance after a long silence since the January 2025 party election signals a possible political comeback, with many speculating a move to the CHAUMMA party, where several of his close associates have already migrated.
READ: ‘CHADEMA G–55’ in the New CHAUMMA: Who is Pulling the Strings?
Mbowe’s appearance comes amid clarification about a court ruling that CHADEMA is barred from engaging in any political activities, including media appearances, press conferences, and meetings, until a civil matter is resolved in the High Court.
In a lengthy response, one of CHADEMA’s prominent personnel, Godbless Lema, questioned Mbowe’s silence on the party’s challenges and his current political trajectory.
“Today, you are seen attending a Government meeting about the National Development Vision, while our chairman, Tundu Lissu, is in prison facing treason charges. Our party is not allowed to engage in political activities, and our members are disappearing, being tortured, and some have been killed, yet you have never once appeared in court, nor have you spoken a word to condemn this brutality happening right before the eyes of Tanzanians,” Lema wrote in an X post.
He continued: “You were Chairman for over 20 years. I cannot list here the names of those who lost their lives because they believed our leadership had a sincere purpose. We buried them in nearly every region of this country, we supported the injured, and we rescued a few from prison. And many of them fought in your name. They believed in the system you led. Today, what do we say to their families, while they are still paying the price of the struggle?”
While Mbowe has never publicly spoken about Lissu’s treason case, his close associate Salum Mwalimu, who is now the Secretary General of CHAUMMA party after defection, has reported that they had visited Tundu Lissu in prison during the early days of his arrest.
