Chama Cha Mapinduzi’s electoral bet, John Magufuli, and Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo’s Edward Lowassa are both preparing for the Oct. 25 general elections.

The anticipated 2015 general elections is described to be the most contested in Tanzanian history.

Tensions in the Tanzanian elections escalated after former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa defected from CCM and joined the opposing Chadema party in July. Lowassa left the ruling party after failure to make it to CCM’s list of presidential candidates.

With the candidates having highly political backgrounds, competition between the two influential hopefuls is widely anticipated. In a poll released on Sept. 22 by Twaweza, a non-profit civic organisation and the only public poll on the election, Magufuli is shown to be ahead of Lowassa by 40 points. Despite the gap, this is the first time that the country’s opposition has a genuine chance of winning partly because of Lowassa’s huge support from young people.

John Magufuli

Magufuli was chosen to succeed incumbent president Jakaya Kikwete. In late July, the 56-year-old received a near unanimous vote from CCM, making him the sole bet of the party for the Oct. 25 elections. The presidential bid had his first public rally in Dodoma on Sunday after he was elected by the party.

CCM’s presidential bet garnered 87 per cent of the total votes of the party and bested forerunners including Vice-President Mohamed Bilal, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda and former prime ministers Edward Lowassa and Frederick Sumaye.

The unexpected candidate has been supported by his party by positioning him as a hardworking candidate who “can fix Tanzania’s problems,” Quartz Africa reports.

He is currently the east African nation’s minister of works.

The minister started as a chemistry teacher and quickly made his way up the political ladder. He is married to Janet, who has always kept a low profile in his political endeavours, but is slowly being thrust to the limelight along with her husband’s presidential aspirations.

Since its independence, CCM has dominated Tanzania and holds two-thirds of the seats at the parliament.

Magufuli has Samia Suluhu Hassan as his running mate.

Edward Lowassa

Edward Lowassa was the country’s prime minister until his resignation over corruption allegations in 2008. He denied the charges against him.

The 61-year-old is initially with the CCM but shifted parties after the group decided to have Magufuli as their presidential candidate. Lowassa then turned to the opposition, Ukawa. Under Ukawa, he will be representing four opposition parties combined, namely, Chadema, Civic United Front, NCCR-Mageuzi and the National League for Democracy.

Kikwete described Lowassa’s defection from the party as a child-like act, saying that he is determined to show the group that he is still the father.

Before the relationship turned sour between the two, Kikwete and Lowassa were known as “Boyz II Men,” referring to the popular band in the 90s, when they campaigned and bid for the presidency together in 1995.

Despite a highly political background, Lowassa is popular with the people as a candidate who can apparently liberate Tanzania from the long-ruling CCM. His nomination was endorsed by 1.5 million people, and he has been popular in social networking sites like Twitter.

Lowassa will have Juma Duni Haji as his running mate.

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