Tanzania’s election commission has declared ruling party candidate John Pombe Magufuli as the victor of the country’s presidential election.
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Benjamin Mkapa, of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party is elected president and his party wins the legislative elections by a wide margin.
Edward Lowassa, from the Ukawa opposition alliance, is polling at 41.52 percent of total votes reported.
Lowassa defected to the opposition in September after the CCM rejected his bid to succeed President Jakaya Kikwete, who was no longer allowed to run for office after serving two five-year terms.
On October 31, 2010, elections take place peacefully.
African Union (AU), Commonwealth, and European election observers celebrated the peaceful nature of polling on Sunday.
Earlier today, the vote in Tanzania’s semi-autonomous Zanzibar archipelago was annulled after the election commission there cited “gross violations”, meaning there will be a fresh ballot in the Zanzibar archipelago which is the stronghold of Tanzania’s opposition.
Worldwide election observers have called for transparency following Zanzibar’s poll annulment, calling political leaders to “cast aside their differences” and “find a speedy resolution”.
ZEC chairman Jecha Salum Jecha made a statement on state television that by the power invested on him he has been obliged to cancel the results because the election violated election laws and Zanzibar constitution.
Police fired teargas to disperse CUF supporters in Zanzibar after they gathered to celebrate what the opposition party said was its victory.
Seif Sharif Hamad from the opposition Civic United Front (CUF), the vice-president in the previous unity government, told reporters he had won Sunday’s polls, claiming to have seen official documents of final voting figures.
“We want the commission to immediately stop the announcement of the results and restart the process to verify the results using the forms that were signed by party agents and election officers”, he added.
Tanzania was formed when Zanzibar and Pemba island united with mainland Tanganyika in April 1964, three months after the islands’ black majority overthrew the traditional Arab rulers.
He assured Tanzanians that CCM will not relent to deliver on its campaign promises and will ensure the party manifesto is followed to the letter.
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Magufuli’s running mate Samia Suluhu Hassan, will become the first female vice president of Tanzania. “We are requesting that the National Electoral Commission announces that Edward Lowassa is the victor of the presidency of the United Republic of Tanzania”, a spokesperson said.
