CHADEMA national chairman Freeman Mbowe, has officially announced his intention to contest in the party’s election once more, vying for his position against other candidates, including Tundu Lissu.

He made this declaration  in Dar es Salaam today December 21, 2024 during a meeting with editors emphasizing his commitment to defend his position in the upcoming election.

He said after giving it considerable thought, he acknowledged that although he had once contemplated stepping down, he couldn’t abandon the party during its current internal conflicts making it clear that he would continue in his role and seek re-election.

He expressed belief that, with the cooperation of both his supporters and detractors, they could engage in dialogue to resolve the issues noting that he had never prevented anyone from running and welcomed those who wished to contest, proposing that the decision be made through the ballot box.

“I have thought deeply about this. I have often said I wanted to step down, but I cannot leave amid the current internal struggles within the party. So, I am here to stay, I will run, and I believe that with my colleagues, both those who support me and those who do not, we will meet in discussions to resolve matters,” he said.

He added: “I have never blocked anyone from running. Anyone who wants to run, let’s meet in the ballot box.”

According to him, the elders who founded the party did not leave power because they wanted to step down but they decided to leave because they had completed their major task of building a strong party with clear ideologies and policies. 

“Let us remember Mzee Edwin Mtei, the first Chairman of the party, who left at the age of 68, and five years later, Mzee Bob Makani, the second Chairman, left at 67. Both left not because they were defeated but because they had finished their duties in strengthening the party's policies,” he noted.

He further noted that he took over the leadership of the party on September 14, 2004. During these 20 years, the first 11 years were the most active, during which we dedicated ourselves fully to building our party into a credible opposition force achieving successes that allowed us to become the largest opposition party in Tanzania.

“We have accomplished a lot, including introducing the party’s famous attire, the ‘kombi,’ and increasing the party’s value by attracting serious politicians from various parties and universities. People began to liken our party to Real Madrid, which can attract star players from different teams. We gained many prominent figures who added value to our party.”