You're listening to a podcast from the BBC World Service. This is Hard Talk with me, Stephen Sacker.

Thanks for downloading this edition of the program. I do hope you enjoy it.

Welcome to Hard Talk on the BBC World Service with me, Stephen Sacker. My guest today doesn't need to be told that politics can sometimes be a dangerous business.

Tundu Lissu was one of the most vocal opponents of Tanzania's controversial president,

John Magafouli, when gunmen attacked him outside his home in September 2017.

Miraculously, he survived, but the last 16 months have been dominated by surgery and recuperation,

most of it in Belgium, which has become Mr. Lisu's temporary home. The attempted assassination

caused a stir around the world, adding to the impression that Tanzanian democracy is increasingly fragile. President

Magafouli is an instinctive populist. He came to power promising to clean up the government and stand

up to the foreign mining interests. Polls suggest many Tanzanians believe he has delivered,

but there are also signs of a rising authoritarianism,

a crackdown on freedom of expression and the media,

a legislative effort to curb political activism,

and the detention of a number of high-profile opponents.

And while there is no proof of a government connection to the attack on Mr. Lisu, many Tanzanians

remain suspicious. In a sense, the country is a test case for Africa. Has the continent really

moved away from the strongman style of government? Well, Tundu Lissu joins me now. Welcome to Hard Talk. Thank you so much, Stephen,

for having me. Well, we are pleased to have you here, not least because 16 months ago,

it looked as though you would probably die. Somehow, miraculously, you survived an assassination

attempt, which saw 20 bullets pumped into your body

how are you today um very well very well compared to what i was uh 14 months ago uh as you say

i was shot multiple times actually i was I was shot 16 times to be exact.

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