Alfred Lasteck
BBC News, Dar es Salaam
Tanzania’s government has paid pension and other benefits that opposition politician Tundu Lissu lost when he was stripped of his parliamentary seat after fleeing into exile.
At the time he was at loggerheads with then-President John Magufuli, who was determined to crackdown on the opposition.
But since Mr Magufuli’s death last year, the political climate has changed in Tanzania under his successor President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Mr Lissu left Tanzania in 2017 after being shot and wounded by unidentified gunmen in the capital, Dodoma.
Speaking at a digital forum on Wednesday, Mr Lissu said he had received a phone call two months ago from an officer in the finance ministry, who informed him that the benefits he was claiming had been paid.
Mr Lissu added that all his bank debts had been settled by the government.
“I had loans from two banks – and one had already filed a case in court claiming back their money but now I feel the inconveniences are gone and I can tell that the public that the government under President Samia has settled all these debts.”
The chief government paymaster, Emmanuel Tutuba, told local Mwananchi newspaper that it was normal practice for the government to pay debts of its employees and officials – including their pension benefits.
The government’s action is said to be a result of face-to-face talks between Mr Lissu and President Samia in February.
They met in the Belgian capital, Brussels, when she was on an official visit.
Many have applauded the president for improving Tanzania’s human rights record, including lifting bans on media outlets imposed under her predecessor.
Mr Lissu, who is vice-chairman of the main opposition Chadema party, had returned to Tanzania in July 2020 to participate in that year’s presidential elections.
But he rejected the results, alleging widespread vote rigging had secured Mr Magufuli’s victory.
He left again in November that year after complaining of death threats and has since remained in exile in Belgium.
Copyright: AFP
Image caption: Tundu Lissu was st
Tanzania’s government has paid pension and other benefits that opposition politician Tundu Lissu lost when he was stripped of his parliamentary seat after fleeing into exile.
At the time he was at loggerheads with then-President John Magufuli, who was determined to crackdown on the opposition.
But since Mr Magufuli’s death last year, the political climate has changed in Tanzania under his successor President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Mr Lissu left Tanzania in 2017 after being shot and wounded by unidentified gunmen in the capital, Dodoma.
Speaking at a digital forum on Wednesday, Mr Lissu said he had received a phone call two months ago from an officer in the finance ministry, who informed him that the benefits he was claiming had been paid.
Mr Lissu added that all his bank debts had been settled by the government.
“I had loans from two banks – and one had already filed a case in court claiming back their money but now I feel the inconveniences are gone and I can tell that the public that the government under President Samia has settled all these debts.”
The chief government paymaster, Emmanuel Tutuba, told local Mwananchi newspaper that it was normal practice for the government to pay debts of its employees and officials – including their pension benefits.
The government’s action is said to be a result of face-to-face talks between Mr Lissu and President Samia in February.
They met in the Belgian capital, Brussels, when she was on an official visit.
Many have applauded the president for improving Tanzania’s human rights record, including lifting bans on media outlets imposed under her predecessor.
Mr Lissu, who is vice-chairman of the main opposition Chadema party, had returned to Tanzania in July 2020 to participate in that year’s presidential elections.
But he rejected the results, alleging widespread vote rigging had secured Mr Magufuli’s victory.
He left again in November that year after complaining of death threats and has since remained in exile in Belgium.
BBC News, Dar es Salaam
