Opposition party Chadema selected former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa, 62, as its candidate.
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CCM has held a super-majority in the Tanzanian parliament and a majority in Zanzibar since the 1995 multiparty elections.
Both candidates have already cast their ballots.
Critics also point out that Lowassa, a long-term CCM party stalwart before defection, does not represent much of a change to the system.
Young men dressed as schoolgirls with Winnie-the-pooh and Barbie backpacks walked around the grounds holding a sign that read “Ukawa- free primary school education”, referring to the umbrella opposition, Ukawa, who united under Lowassa as their presidential candidate. He captured national attention when he joined the opposition party, Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo, known as Chadema.
The opposition Ukawa coalition has one critical goal: To chase CCM from power.
Following the restoration of multi-party politics, it has retained its popularity and the voters’ confidence, winning all of the past four general elections (held in 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010).
In the Republic of Congo people voted on Sunday on whether to amend the constitution to enable one of the continent’s longest-serving leaders, President Denis Sassou Nguesso, to seek a third term, extending his 31-year grip on power.
But voting was broadly peaceful across the vast East African nation of 47 million people, with a high turnout in many urban areas leading to delays. The demand for good luck charms was on the rise during the political campaigns. Whoever is elected president of mainland Tanzania must enhance government support and investment in smallholder farmers, experts said. He once served as prime minister, but resigned over corruption allegations. Makamba, the CCM spokesman, said he expects voter intimidation to keep supporters of the ruling party, particularly women, from the polls. For CCM officialdom, the invocation of Nyerere as the champion of peace potentially legitimises governmental crackdowns on dissent.
Tanzania has been one of Africa’s most stable democracies, periodically changing presidents if not the ruling party, although violence has sometimes flared on the autonomous island of Zanzibar where Islamists and separatists have a strong voice.
“I think it’s going to be the most competitive race we’ve seen”, Pham said during a telephone interview.
Speaking at separate campaign rallies, opposition leaders have been repeatedly urging their supporters to ensure that they remain within a radius of 200 metres from polling stations to guard their votes, insisting that there was a plot by the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) to rig votes.
The ruling party’s choice of Magufuli, previously little-known, may stem from the “desire of CCM’s leadership to recast the party as being in touch with ordinary Tanzanians, in contrast to its current image as a party run by wealthy elites”, McKeon said.
Côte d’Ivoire began voting on Sunday in a presidential election that will probably extend the term of Alassane Ouattara.
For the past two months various political parties in the country have waged their presidential, parliamentary and councillorship campaigns centred on the “movement for change” slogan.
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Thus, the mere mention of job creation to the youth, who make more than 60 per cent of the voters, inspires them to take part in this year’s elections, slated for tomorrow, in large numbers, unlike in past elections.
