Voting has started in Tanzania’s general elections by which the ruling party bash faces a robust challenge from a united opposition.
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Similarly, polls and analysts forecast a presidential victory for John Magufuli, a CCM candidate, but many expect the party’s parliamentary majority to be whittled down after the opposition united behind a single candidate for the first time.
The ruling party, through its National executive committee member January Makamaba however addressed another press conference where he asked the Opposition to let the elections body do its work.
Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi, reporting from Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salam, said polling stations opened early to allow the stream of voters who want to cast their ballot before the major crowds turn out.
Lowassa, the 62-year-old former premier leading the opposition presidential bid, quit CCM in July after the party spurned him as their candidate.
Ivory Coast voted in a presidential election Sunday expected to return incumbent Alassane Ouattara to power amid hopes of cementing peace after years of violence and upheaval.
One September poll showed Lowassa winning, an unprecedented prospect in a country where the CCM has swept every election. Police Commissioner Paul Chagonja said a few arrests were made due to “violations of electoral procedures” at a Chadema centre, where volunteers were tallying the vote.
CUF, one of four parties which make up Ukawa, has accused the Zanzibar electoral commission of only releasing results from constituencies where the CMM candidate has won.
The BBC’s Muliro Telewa in the main city Dar es Salaam says the news will worry the governing CCM party that has been in power for 54 years.
A comedian with no political experience looks poised to become Guatemala’s next president when the country votes Sunday in a runoff election, amid the fallout of a massive corruption scandal.
Congo will hold a referendum Sunday to determine whether longtime President Denis Sassou Nguesso can seek a third term in office following deadly clashes in the oil-producing country… He once served as prime minister, but resigned over corruption allegations.
Benson said both Chadema and CCM parties managed to conduct successful campaigns.
The semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar, traditionally a hotspot during elections, has also witnessed tensions again.
Kenya has been particularly keen on the 2015 elections, considered the most competitive ever since Tanzania became a republic 50 years ago.
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“If it’s not, I won’t concede”, he said. Lowassa on the other hand, defected to Chadema after he was allegedly removed from CCM’s nomination list but in his campaign trail, has been categorical that his leadership will turn around how the country is run.
