Samia Suluhu Names Unruly Lion After Opposition Chief Tundu Lissu: "He's Always Unsettled"

• President Samia Suluhu Hassan surprised many by naming a lion at the Kizimkazi Festival after opposition leader Tundu Lissu, likening the lion's feistiness to Lissu's character
• Suluhu’s decision drew laughter from the audience as she highlighted the lion’s unruly nature, which she felt mirrored Lissu’s own restlessness
• Lissu embraced the unusual honour, referencing his Kinyaturu warrior heritage, where his family was known for slaying lions that threatened their cattle
• Despite Suluhu possibly being unaware of his family’s background, Lissu welcomed the comparison, appreciating the reverence for lions in many cultures

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Dar es Salaam - In a surprising yet light-hearted turn of events, Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has named a lion after one of the country's prominent opposition leaders, Tundu Lissu.

While attending the Kizimkazi Festival, Suluhu recounted how she was struck by the feisty nature of one particular lion in the exhibition.

Mama Suluhu, as she is popularly known, said she asked Tanzania Wildlife Authority (TAWA) officials if they had already named the beast.

Upon learning that it had yet to be named, Sulugu suggested that it should be named after Opposition Chadema vice chairman Tundu Lissu.

She explained that the name fits with Lissu's character, claiming that the opposition figurehead is always restless.

"There was a fierce lion there, a bit unruly. I asked if they had given the lion a name, and they told me they hadn’t yet. So I told them, well, name it after my son, Tundu Lissu. Give this lion his name."Because just like my son Tundu Lissu, the lion was not one to be calm," she said drawing laughter from the audience.

How did Tundu Lissu respond to Samia Suluhu

In his response, the opposition leader said that Suluhu was not wrong when she decided to name a lion after his name due to his background.

Lissu claimed to have sprung from a family of Kinyaturu warriors who used to slay cattle thieves and lions that had threatened their herds.

"In Kinyaturu, these warriors are called 'ahomi' (singular 'muhomi'). My paternal grandfather, Mughwai, was a muhomi; he killed a lion that invaded and killed his cattle. My father, Lissu, was also a muhomi. He killed lions twice when they invaded and killed his cattle," Lissu told Mwananchi.

He thus added that, despite the possibility that Suluhu is unaware of these facts, it was okay for her to refer to him as a lion, an animal that is revered in many cultures.

Artist jailed for burning Suluhu's portrait

In a separate incident, Tanzanian artist Shadrack Chaula was sentenced to two years in prison for insulting Suluhu and burning her portrait.

Chaula admitted guilt for his actions, which included sharing videos on TikTok containing false information, deemed cyber-harassment and incitement.

Following his sentencing, supporters raised funds to pay a fine of KSh 254,640, enabling his lawyers to secure his release and appeal the sentence.

Chaula's legal team said they would appeal to clear his criminal record and protect his future aspirations in the art community, both locally and internationally.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke