Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan made headlines by naming an unruly lion after opposition leader Tundu Lissu during a visit to the Tanzania Wildlife Authority (TAWA). When officials said the lion had no name, she quipped, “If not, name him Tundu Lissu,” adding that the comparison was due to Lissu being “always unsettled.”
Lissu, leader of the Chadema party, has been a persistent government critic. Despite facing challenges, including surviving a 2017 assassination attempt, he remains undeterred. In response to the naming, Lissu referenced his family’s history, stating, “I come from a family of heroes. My great-grandfather killed a lion that attacked him and his cattle.”
Both President Samia and Lissu are expected to run in next year’s elections, setting the stage for a fierce political battle.
