Tanzania tries to persuade exiled leaders to return home.

Chadema, Tanzania's major opposition party, has urged MPs who have fled the country to seek asylum abroad to return.

It comes after the government urged politicians who fled during the rule of former President John Magufuli to return, assuring them of their safety.

Following a series of negotiations between the government and political parties, Tanzania's home affairs minister invited exiled MPs to return earlier this week.

Chadema Secretary-General John Manyika reminded all of the party's exiled members of President Samia Suluhu's assurance of their safety on Thursday.

Former presidential contender Tundu Lissu, as well as former MPs Godbless Lema and Ezekiel Wenge, are among the high-profile politicians in exile.

Mr. Lissu sought temporary asylum at the residence of the German ambassador in Dar es Salaam after the October 2020 general election, stating that he had received death threats from Mr. Magufuli's administration.

That year, he had just returned from exile to run for the election, which Mr. Magufuli won.

Mr. Lissu has been living in exile since being shot 16 times in an assassination attempt in 2017 that was generally suspected of being politically motivated.

Former MP Godbless Lema and his family fled to Canada in December 2020 after being granted political asylum.

President Samia took office when her predecessor died in March of last year and has been implementing reforms since then.