- Tundu Lissu was seen leaving the Germany Embassy for the airport on Tuesday, November 10
- He was in company of Germany Embassy officials and it was not immediately clear which country he was headed to
- Lissu had taken refuge in the German Embassy from Sunday, November 8,
- He claimed that his life was in danger after dismissing elections result declaring President John Magufuli a winner
- Sources hinted he could be headed to Belgium where he had taken asylum after a 2017 assassination attempt
- In 2017, Lissu’s vehicle was sprayed with at least 16 bullets leaving him with serious injuries that made him undergo 20 surgeries
Chama Cha Demokrasia (CHADEMA) presidential flag bearer in the 2020 Tanzanian presidential election Tundu Lissu has fled the country.
Sources intimate to the development said the Opposition leader who challenged President John Pombe Magufuli in the just concluded General Election left the country on Tuesday, November 10.
Lissu said he did not recognise the results citing massive electoral malpractices and irregularities, indicating his life was in danger for the stand.
Lissu who narrowly survived an assassination attack in 2017 where he was shot at 16 times, had fled to Belgium and only returned in 2010 to contest for presidency against the aristocratic Magufuli.
Lissu lost in the election which was dominated by Magufuli’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party but said the election was a fraud a sentiment that was echoed by the international community led by the US.
The Opposition leader had been holed up the German Embassy from Friday, November 6, after he was grilled by police officers and later expressed his concerns that his life was in danger.
A video on his official Twitter account showed Lissu leaving the Germany Embassy accompanied by German officials headed to the airport.
It was not clear where he was going to take asylum but close sources speculated that he was returning to Germany where he had sought political asylum for the past two years.
After the assassination attempt in 2017 Lissu underwent at least surgeries in Kenya and Belgium and up to date walks with a limp courtesy of injuries he sustained in the brutal attack.
Tanzania’s electoral commission declared Magufuli a winner with 84% of the votes and declared Lissu had garnered a paltry 13%.
The commission dismissed claims that the election was marred with irregularities saying the results were credible.
Lissu was among 14 candidates who challenged Magufuli for the top seat.