It is Magufuli for Tanzania
Outgoing president Jakaya Kikwete (L) with newly elected president John Magufuli in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. PHOTO | AFP
The National Electoral Commission (NEC), Thursday afternoon, has declared John Magufuli the winner of Tanzania's election.
The presidential candidate of the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party has won with 58.46 per cent of the vote.
The opposition Chadema party, whose candidate Edward Lowassa came second with 39 per cent, declined to sign the consent forms following earlier claims of fraud and demands for a recount of the tightly contested election.
Mr Magufuli, 56, a minister in the outgoing government led by retiring President Jakaya Kikwete, received 8.8 million votes to Mr Lowassa’s 6 million.
His win continues CCM’s grip on power in Tanzania after governing the country since Independence in 1961.
Election observers have called for a speedy resolution of the stalemate in Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous islands that make up the union with Tanzania, where elections were annulled on Wednesday over allegations of fraud.
