Mullah Baradar vs Zitto Kabwe

Mullah Baradar, alongside Mullah Omar, co-founded the Taliban movement in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The group emerged from madrassas and aimed to impose a strict interpretation of Islamic law, eventually capturing Kabul in 1996.

Baradar, as head of the Taliban's political office in Doha, signed the agreement with the United States. The deal outlined the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in exchange for Taliban security guarantees and a commitment to peace talks with the Afghan government.

Following the US withdrawal, Baradar led the Taliban's rapid military offensive that culminated in the capture of Kabul on August 15, 2021. The takeover ended the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and restored Taliban rule.

Kabwe was elected to the Tanzanian Parliament as a CHADEMA MP for Kigoma North. He served as Chair of the Parliamentary Budget Committee, where he gained a reputation for fiscal scrutiny and transparency. He was expelled from CHADEMA in 2014 for criticizing party leadership.

Kabwe founded the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo) party in Tanzania, positioning it as a leftist alternative to the dominant CCM and CHADEMA. The party advocated for social justice, anti-corruption, and economic equality, attracting young and urban voters.

Kabwe ran as the ACT-Wazalendo candidate in Tanzania's presidential election. He received 0.4% of the vote, finishing fourth. His campaign focused on anti-corruption and economic reform, but was overshadowed by the dominant CCM and CHADEMA campaigns.