CHADEMA Founding Member, Freeman Mbowe

Freeman Mbowe is a Tanzanian politician and a founding member of Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), Tanzania’s main opposition party. He served as the party’s national chairman for 21 years, until January 2025, when he handed the reins to Tundu Lissu.  

Mbowe, who remains an influential figure within CHADEMA’s leadership, began his parliamentary career in 2000 when he was elected to represent Hai Constituency in the Kilimanjaro Region. At the time, he secured 64.5% of the vote, the highest margin among opposition lawmakers elected that year. He continued to represent the constituency in the National Assembly from 2010 to 2020.

In the run-up to the 2005 general election, Mbowe was selected as CHADEMA’s presidential candidate. His running mate, Jumbe Rajab Jumbe from Zanzibar, passed away shortly before the scheduled polling date, prompting the postponement of the election from October 30 to December 14, 2005. In the final tally, Mbowe placed third out of 10 candidates, receiving 5.88% of the vote.

During the 2010 general election, Mbowe reclaimed his seat in Parliament by defeating the incumbent from the ruling party, Chama cha Mapinduzi, Fuya Godwin Kimbita, with 51.63% of the vote.

Mbowe’s political career has also been marked by controversy and legal challenges. In July 2021, he was arrested alongside other CHADEMA members while en route to a planned rally in Mwanza. Authorities later charged him with terrorism-related offences, which are non-bailable under Tanzanian law. He remained in remand custody until March 2022, when state prosecutors dropped the charges. Shortly after his release, Mbowe held discussions with President Samia Suluhu Hassan and made a public appearance at an International Women’s Day event in Iringa, sparking mixed reactions, including criticism that the release was politically motivated.

In August 2024, Mbowe was arrested again, this time along with over 500 CHADEMA supporters during a nationwide security operation. He was granted bail a day later but was re-arrested the following month in Dar es Salaam during a planned protest condemning abductions and killings that allegedly targeted members of the opposition.