A week ago, reports came to life that President Magufuli’s nemesis, Tundu Lisu, is a martial arts expert. It has come to be known that Tundu Lissu has been practicing martial arts since the year 2006.
Lissu’s bodyguard, Renatus Charles Hangaya, carried a unique sword that created a buzz in Tanzanian media during the previous campaigns. The bodyguard says that the sword is passed down his family generations. The holder of the sword must be an honest and diligent person. The sword is said to have spiritual powers where the holder can not also protect anyone who is not honest.
“The sword is not as dangerous as the guns that protect leaders. However, the guns do not possess natural powers like this sword,” Hangaya says in an interview.
After being shot several times a few years ago, Tundu Lissu took precautions where he took someone he trusted and made him his closest bodyguard.
Lissu’s closest bodyguard and martial arts teacher revealed that his boss’s honesty and transparency was the reason he chose to work for him. Hangaya revealed how he met his boss back in the year 2006. Tundu Lissu joined Hangaya’s school of martial arts in 2006. The teacher did not know his new student would later become his boss.
The bodyguard further says that the sword is protected by spirits and it is the reason that makes the Tanzanian government recognize the weapon. He goes ahead and says that his siblings have been killed violently in the quest for righteousness.
“I work with Lissu because he is an honest and diligent man. If he was not honest, I could not be working with him,” Hangaya points out.
The bodyguard further said that the sword has a secret name that is only revealed to its holder. He rather chose to call it “a sword spear”.
Why Lissu needed a special bodyguard
The opposition leader, Lissu, feared for his life when he flew back to his country to contest his 2020 presidential bid. Lissu lost to Magufuli and flew back abroad stating threats to his life as the reason he flew away.
Reports say that the opposition figure-head needed someone trustworthy and with something special. Tanzania has been known of being a superstitious country on the East African coast. This might be the reason why Lissu wanted someone who could bring something special to the table.
President Magufuli has been known to violently intimidate his opponents. He uses the state’s bodies, like the police, to harass.
Lissu’s bodyguard further points out that he can work with anyone else who is diligent and honest. He also says that he aspires to be the best bodyguard in the world. Hangaya further says that he is a soldier of God when he is not working meaning that he spreads the gospel in his free time.
“If I am not in my work uniform, then I am a private soldier for God,” Hangaya says.
“If anyone wants to work with me, then am willing to work provided we do it diligently,” he adds.
The bodyguard is currently free as his boss flew away after the elections. Hangaya is a martial arts teacher and bodyguard. Lissu joined his martial arts school in 2006 but he went to school with Hangaya’s older brother.
