After a long political hiatus which he called a retirement from politics, Dr Wilbroad Slaa is making a political comeback. In 2015, Slaa, then CHADEMA Secretary General, announced that he had quit the party and politics in general. He was protesting the arrival of Edward Lowassa into the party. He was seen as the likely joint candidate of the opposition coalition UKAWA in the 2015 elections.
In 2017, Dr Slaa was lured into government and appointed Tanzania’s ambassador to Sweden by former President John Magufuli. During his time away from CHADEMA, Dr Slaa was full of praise for the Magufuli administration and on several occasions threw shade at his former party.
In 2018, while serving as ambassador he released his book titled Nyuma ya Pazia: CHADEMA Ilivyosalitiwa 2015 loosely translated as Behind the Curtains: How CHADEMA was Betrayed in 2015. In this book, he lifts the veil on the intricacies that surrounded the arrival of Lowassa into CHADEMA in 2015. In the book, Slaa says he was not ready to betray the Tanzania people, so he decided to step aside.
Slaa cosies with CHADEMA
In early 2023, Dr Slaa seemed to have joined CHADEMA’s cause for a New Constitution. In February 2023, in his political backyard of Karatu, Dr Slaa spoke at a CHADEMA rally voicing his support for a New Constitution. Asked whether this meant that Dr Slaa was open to returning to the fold, CHADEMA national chairperson Freeman Mbowe gave conditions for the plausible return of Dr Slaa to CHADEMA.
In September 2023, President Samia Suluhu Hassan stripped off Slaa’s ambassadorial title and diplomatic status. This followed his constant criticism of the controversial DP World port deal. He had hitherto been harassed and briefly detained by the police following his scathing criticism of the DP World port deal.
READ MORE: Tanzania Proceeds With Port Deal As It Inks Three Deals With DP World
Slaa’s criticism of the port deal, which was later signed by the government in October 2023, was congruent to that of his former party CHADEMA. He joined other critics of the deal such as lawyers Boniface Mwabakusi and Dr Rugemaliza Nshala to oppose the agreement.
Dr Slaa’s resolute criticism endeared him to CHADEMA faithfuls. Before his fallout with CHADEMA in 2015, he was a thorn in the CCM government. During the 2010 election cycle, Dr Slaa was seen as the opposition figurehead who took on the government, especially on issues of government theft and plunder.
At a recent political rally in Mwanza, Mr Mbowe welcomed Slaa back into the party – albeit not officially. On February 15, Dr Slaa joined CHADEMA in a protest rally in the streets of Mwanza where among other things the party was demanding that the president not sign into law the proposed electoral bill recently passed in parliament and the rise in cost of living.
While inviting Dr Slaa to speak, Mbowe said: “We in CHADEMA don’t have permanent enemies or permanent friends but permanent interests for our country and that is why I invite you to this stage and am glad to introduce you as my former Secretary General.”
Mbowe went on to praise Slaa for his service in building the party. Mbowe also promised him that the party was ready to work with him again.
READ MORE: Police Denies Reports It Blocked Forum On New Constitution in Mwanza
But what does this mean for CHADEMA and Dr Slaa? Despite his acrimonious exit in 2015, it is evident that he still has affection for the party and that his ideological standing resonates with the party, especially in the demand for a New Constitution.
Since his vociferous objection to the port agreement last year, Dr Slaa has drawn closer and closer to CHADEMA. As he cosied with CHADEMA, some undertones from within reminded him of his supposed betrayal in 2015.
However, Dr Slaa has built a reputation as a serious political debater and government critic who can build strong arguments. CHADEMA will benefit from Dr Slaa’s pedigree if he returns to the fold.
While Slaa might not be as popular as he was between 2010 and 2015, he still commands some level of respect. Similarly, Dr Slaa will also benefit from CHADEMA which will give him a political base where he can continue his political activism.
It however remains to be seen whether Dr Slaa shall be officially welcomed back to CHADEMA.
Nicodemus Minde holds a PhD in International Relations from the United States International University- Africa, Nairobi. He can be reached on X at @decolanga. The opinions expressed here are the writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Chanzo. If you are interested in publishing in this space, please contact our editors at editor@thechanzo.com.
One Response
CHADEMA committed a political harakiri when they ditched charismatic Dr Slaa and embraced scandalous Lowassa. It was an act of opportunism that destroyed Chadema when Dr Slaa rightly protested and left the party. Chadema wrongly thought Lowassa would bring massive CCM followers but that never happened. In fact he himself reverted to CCM as another act of opportunism. Today Chadema seems to have realized their blunder and have taken back Dr Slaa