Tanzania's Tundu Lissu demands bullet-riddled car from police

The car belonging to Tanzania's Chadema presidential candidate Tundu Lissu at the Dodoma regional police offices on August 28, 2020.

Photo credit: Courtesy

What you need to know:

  • Chadema head of communications Tumaini Makene told journalists that Mr Lissu, accompanied by his running mate Salum Mwalimu, went to police to request the return of the car.
  • Mr Lissu told RPC Gilles Muroto that he decided to go in person after others failed in their attempts to take the vehicle. 

Dodoma,

Chadema presidential candidate Tundu Lissu Friday appeared at the Dodoma regional police offices demanding the vehicle he was in when unknown assailants attacked him on September 7, three years ago.

Mr Lissu was sprayed with at least 16 bullets outside his house in Dodoma.

The car with over 30 bullet holes is in the hands of the police.

Chadema head of communications Tumaini Makene told journalists that Mr Lissu, accompanied by his running mate Salum Mwalimu, went to police to request the return of the car.

Failed attempts

Mr Lissu told RPC Gilles Muroto that he decided to go in person after others failed in their attempts to take the vehicle.

The firebrand politician,  who is a former Singida East member of Parliament (Chadema), returned to the country from Belgium  on July 27, where he went from treatment on January 6, 2018.

Mr Makene said on Friday that Mr Muroto told Lissu that the regional police force needed more time before handing him the car.

“The police also directed him to provide information regarding his attack in 2017,” he said.

“Lissu reiterated his surprise that almost three years since his attack, the police force has not conducted any investigation, including questioning him and his driver Adam Bakari, despite promising to do so since he was hospitalised in Kenya.”

He said the politician agreed to cooperate with police and provide any helpful information.