CHADEMA’s Vice Chairman, Tundu Lissu, found himself under heavy scrutiny from both leaders of the ruling party in Tanzania, CCM, and the public, following remarks he made during a recent CHADEMA protest, where he referred to President Samia as a Zanzibari.
Lissu’s comments, delivered during CHADEMA’s peaceful protests in Manyara Region a few days ago, stirred controversy, with some labeling them as discriminatory and others accusing him of inciting unrest. The incident occurred on Friday, April 26, 2024, coinciding with the 60th anniversary celebrations of the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which gave birth to the United Republic of Tanzania under the leadership of Founding President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere on April 26, 1964. The country later adopted the name Tanzania, reflecting the fusion of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
President Samia had previously publicly acknowledged her Zanzibari heritage, as evidenced by a social media post on February 27, 2020, where she shared her receipt of a Zanzibar Resident Identity Card. Furthermore, in a separate interview, she emphasized her identity, stating, “Even if you ask me, I will tell you that I am from Zanzibar, I have no tribe.”
The controversy escalated further when Tanzania’s Minister of Information, Communication, and Information Technology, Nape Nnauye, criticized Lissu during a parliamentary session in Dodoma on Monday, April 29, 2024. Nnauye condemned Lissu’s remarks, accusing him of implying that certain government actions were influenced by President Samia’s Zanzibari background. Nnauye warned against allowing such divisive rhetoric to gain traction, emphasizing the importance of national unity and condemning what he perceived as Lissu’s attempt to undermine it. It’s worth noting that Zanzibar, while a partly self-governing state within Tanzania, is not an independent country. It is semi-autonomous, with its own president, legislative, and judiciary.
In response, on the same day in Dodoma, Lissu defended his statement, firmly stating that referring to President Samia as a Zanzibari was not a mistake, as it accurately reflects her heritage.