DAR ES SALAAM, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Former Tanzanian Prime Minister Edward Lowassa on Friday quit the country's leading opposition party and rejoined the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) in a move that tilted the east African nation's political landscape.
Lowassa, 65, rejoined CCM at an event witnessed by CCM national chairman President John Magufuli at the party's sub-headquarters in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.
"Lowassa has made a decision to return home and we are ready to welcome him," said CCM Secretary General Ally Bashiru.
Lowassa quit the CCM in July 2015 and joined opposition Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), vowing to fight poverty should he get the opportunity to become president under the opposition ticket.
He defended his move to defect to the opposition on grounds that his new party's struggle against poverty was in line with his prophesied resolve.
Lowassa, who served as prime minister from 2005 to 2008 under President Jakaya Kikwete, was the first premier to have been forced to resign by a fraud scandal in the history of Tanzania.
After the ruling CCM failed to select Lowassa as its candidate for the October 2015 presidential election, he left the party and stood instead as an opposition candidate.
He was defeated in the election by then CCM candidate Magufuli.
