DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) – Tanzanian opposition chief and previous presidential candidate Tundu Lissu mentioned he’s going to go back house this month from exile in Europe, after the federal government lifted a ban on political rallies.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan lifted the six-and-a-half-year ban on political rallies ultimate week, a part of her reconciliation technique after taking up the presidency in March 2021 following the dying of her predecessor, John Magufuli.

“With the lifting of the unlawful ban on political job, it is now time to go back house and get again to paintings,” Lissu wrote past due on Friday on Twitter, announcing he would arrive on Jan. 25.

The ban, imposed by way of Magufuli in 2016, allowed elected politicians to habits rallies of their constituencies however barred different political rallies and protests.

Lissu, a former lawmaker, first of all left the rustic to hunt remedy out of the country after he was once shot 16 instances, most commonly within the decrease stomach, in an assault by way of unknown gunmen within the administrative capital Dodoma in September 2017.

He have been arrested 8 instances within the yr main as much as the assault.

He returned for a couple of months in 2020 to problem Magufuli in a presidential election.

Lissu garnered 13% of the votes, however his CHADEMA birthday celebration rejected the end result because of allegations of standard irregularities.

He fled to the place of dwelling of the German ambassador in Tanzania quickly after the election when he gained dying threats, prior to leaving the rustic once more for exile.

Hassan, who has additionally lifted a ban on 4 newspapers, met Lissu all over a consult with to Brussels ultimate yr.

The political opposition and civil rights teams had criticised Magufuli’s ban on rallies, which led to widespread arrests of political figures and clashes between opposition supporters and police.

(Writing by way of Duncan Miriri; Enhancing by way of William Mallard)

Copyright 2023 Thomson Reuters.