[Edward Lowasa in a past event. He differed with Raila Odinga when he failed to support in 2015. Photo/thecitizen.co.tz]
Tanzanian opposition Cha cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo [Chadema] dropped her support on Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga due to his decision to support President John Pombe in 2015.
While Chadema supported Odinga’s bid I 2013, the former Prime Minister sided with Pombe, the eventual winner of disputed 2015 polls in Tanzania.
While addressing mourners at former Interior Cabinet Secretary, Edward Lowasa, and Tanzania’s main opposition leader backed President Uhuru Kenyatta’s reelection bid.
“As opposition, we are backing Uhuru’s reelection given tremendous economic growth we have seen in Kenya,” he said.
“We supported his competitor in 2013 but he repaid by supporting that crafty regime. As Tanzania, we are hopeful that Uhuru will be reelected for the sake of stability,” he added.
Although it is not clear what kind of support the neighboring opposition will give Uhuru, his relationship with Tanzanian counterpart John Pombe has diminished substantially in the last one year.
Kenya’s opposition through Musalia Mudavadi, on Sunday dismissed Lowasa’s endorsement to Jubilee as ‘unnecessary’ and termed it as ‘interference’ from foreigners.