ALIVE BY GRACE OF GOD, SAYS LEMA AS HE JETS BACK HOME

BY GRACE MACHA IN ARUSHA

Godless Lema, the firebrand opposition politician, jetted back home  on Wednesday, saying it was by grace of God that he is safe.

Multitudes of Chadema supporters thronged the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) all the way to Arusha to welcome him back.

Mr. Lema fled the country to Canada in late 2020 after that year's General Election during which he lost his parliamentary seat he held for 10 years.

He told hundreds of his supporters at the airport and at the stopovers along the 50km route to Arusha that he fled the country because he feared for his safety.

During that year's polls, Chadema lost heavily, with many of its  parliamentary seats taken over by candidates of the ruling party CCM.

Mr. Lema was Chadema's MP for 10 years from 2010 when he dislodged CCM candidate Dr. Batilda Burian until 2020 when he lost to CCM's Mrisho Gambo.

His coming back has led to speculations that he may, indeed, be planning to vie for the Arusha Urban seat come 2025.

The ever busy Arusha-Moshi highway was apparently closed to other users after the convoy carrying Mr. Lema and his supporters hit the road.

He was escorted by vehicles and motorcycles with supporters carrying the Chadema white, blue and red flags as well as banners.

Contrary to earlier information, the opposition politician arrived back home with members of his family who also waved to the welcoming party.

He arrived at KIA aboard Ethiopian Airlines enroute from Addis Ababa around mid day and almost immediately hit the road under the blistering sun.

At the KIA junction and King'ori stopovers along the Moshi - Arusha highway, he addressed people and opened Chadema branches.

"I am back home because of the grace of God", he repeatedly said, noting that some people did not wish to see him back.

"But is it the wish of God which reigned. I am back to join other Chadema leaders to fight for democracy and justice", he pointed out.

Mr. Lema's convoy within the city was one of the largest to be seen in Arusha in recent years and rekindled the days when Arusha was the de facto opposition stronghold in the country.

The convoy later proceeded to Railway open ground on the south west of the city centre for a public rally which was addressed by the Chadema national chairman Freeman Mbowe and other leaders.

Incidentally, Mr. Lema's arrival at KIA coincided with the arrival of President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the same airport on Wednesday.

The Head of State jetted into the airport at around 11 am and headed to Arusha city in another convoy. President Hassan is in Arusha for official duties.

On Wednesday morning, the traffic police had a hectic time trying to stop the motorcycle riders, popular as 'boda boda' from riding all the way from Arusha to KIA to allow for safe passage of the presidential motorcade.