DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's outspoken opposition Member of Parliament Tundu Lissu, who was wounded by unknown gunmen on Thursday has been airlifted from Dodoma General Hospital to the Kenyan capital Nairobi for specialized treatment, the National Assembly said on Friday.
A statement by the office of the Speaker of the National Assembly in the political capital Dodoma said Lissu was airlifted to Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi on Friday at midnight by Flying Doctors, leading provider of safe and professional aero-medical transportation in Africa.
Lissu, a lawyer for opposition party Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), suffered multiple gunshot wounds on Thursday afternoon after unknown gunmen attacked the lawmaker at his home in Dodoma.
The statement said Lissu was accompanied by his wife, the leader of the opposition in Parliament and chairman of CHADEMA, Freeman Mbowe, a surgeon from the Dodoma General Hospital and two doctors from Flying Doctors.
Members of Parliament, attending a two-week parliamentary session in Dodoma, contributed about 20,000 U.S. dollars to help cover Lissu's medical expenses.
President John Magufuli condemned the attack on Thursday and ordered security forces to launch a swift criminal investigation.
"I have been saddened by reports of the shooting of Tundu Lissu. I pray for his quick recovery," said Magufuli.
