John Magufuli wins Tanzanian elections; opposition rejects results

Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), the country’s ruling party for decades, has won another five years’ term through the victory of its presidential candidate, John Magufuli. CCM’s Magufuli won with 58 percent of votes, while opposing party Ukawa’s Edward Lowassa, garnered 40 percent.

Sunday’s national election was described as the toughest for the governing party after being in power for 45 years.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Lowassa rejected the presidential poll results and called for a nationwide recount while accusing the ruling party and authorities of vote rigging. The opposing party claims that Lowassa actually won over Magufuli with 62 percent of the votes.

The accusation was rejected by the CCM. The European Union election monitors also described the election as highly contested and well-administered and considered the results accurate. However, it acknowledged that the election commission has not been completely transparent about its operation, and delays in vote counting has led to the damage of public trust.

Lowassa defected from the CCM after the party chose Magufuli as its presidential candidate. He then joined the main opposition, Chadema, which combined forces with three other opposition parties and became known as Ukawa.

Magufuli, a former public works minister, will be succeeding Jakaya Kikwete, who has served two terms. He is known as “the Bulldozer” for driving a program to build roads across the country, BBC reports.

Magufuli’s victory was celebrated by CCM supporters outside the party’s headquarters in Tanzania’s main city, Dar es Salaam.

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