Lion or Lissu? Tanzania's President names "unruly" lion after rival
Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan has named a lion after Tundu Lissu, a prominent opposition leader known for his contentious relationship with the government.
During a Monday visit to the Tanzania Wildlife Authority (TAWA), President Samia was introduced to a particularly unruly lion.
The lion, known for its troublesome behaviour, was given the name “Tundu Lissu” by President Samia, who remarked on the lion’s unsettled nature as the reason for the name choice.
“Does that lion have a name? If not, name him Tundu Lissu,” President Samia said
Tundu Lissu, leader of the main opposition party Chadema, was recently in the news for being arrested earlier this year. The arrest was related to his attempt to organize a youth rally, which the police alleged was meant to incite violence.
Lissu responded to the news with a sense of humour, drawing on his family's history. "I come from a family of heroes, my great-grandfather killed a lion that attacked him and his cattle," Lissu told the media.
Lissu, who survived a 2017 assassination attempt that left him with severe injuries, is no stranger to confrontation. The attack, in which his car was hit by over 17 bullets, remains unresolved.
Lissu, who ran for president in 2020 but lost to the late John Magufuli, is preparing for another bid in the upcoming elections.
President Samia, who succeeded Magufuli in 2021 and is expected to run for a second term, will likely face off against Lissu in what promises to be a fiercely contested race.
