Tanzania’s opposition parties said at the weekend that they did not recognise the results of a presidential election that gave John Magufuli a landslide second term. The opposition alleges widespread irregularities including blackouts of internet and text messaging services, double voting, ballot box-seizing and the rejection of thousands of election observers from polling stations. The last cycle of Tanzania’s elections in 2015 was highly contested. ", Read more: Tension between Tanzania's 'bulldozer' president and opposition. The national electoral commission late Friday said Magufuli received 12.5 million votes, or 84%, while top opposition […] You can find more information in our data protection declaration. Legal notice | NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Tanzania’s populist President John Magufuli has been declared the overwhelming winner of a second term amid allegations of widespread election fraud, while the … But Magufuli is not bothered by that. Prof. Fredrick Ssempebwa . If the international community would intervene, may be something would be achieved. Oct. 28, 2020. Please make sure to include your name and your country. “We are requesting that the national electoral commission announces that Edward Lowassa is the winner of the presidency of the United Republic of … Tanzania’s incumbent president poised to be declared winner Populist President John Magufuli has 83 percent of votes with 60 percent of ballots counted, says … President John Pombe Magufuli has been re-elected into office for the second term after emerging the overall winner of the polls which were held on Wednesday October 28. Tanzania’s populist leader declared winner of flawed vote October 30, 2020 NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Tanzania’s populist President John Magufuli has been declared the overwhelming winner of a second term amid allegations of widespread election fraud, while the ruling party won enough seats in parliament to change the constitution. "They have turned political matters into enmity and these elections in particular have been conducted very badly," she told DW. "The commission declares John Magufuli of CCM (Chama Cha Mapinduzi) who garnered the majority of votes as the winner in the presidential seat..," said commission chairman Semistocles Kaijage. "Magufuli came in on the platform of fighting corruption  and empowering the masses, so he is still hugely popular," he told DW. Voters elected the president, members of Parliament, and local government councillors. Tundu Lissu has meanwhile asked the international community to not recognize the result of the election. As well as taking part in the Tanzanian elections, voters on the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar were also electing their own president, and the CCM candidate Hussein Mwinyi … Share. The Tanzanian Election Commission declared John Magufuli, candidate for a second five-year term, the winner of the presidential election on Friday evening. NAIROBI, Kenya - Tanzania’s populist President John Magufuli has been declared the overwhelming winner of a second term amid allegations of widespread election fraud, while the … "Magufuli doesn't care about international legitimacy," he explains. President John Magufuli prevailed at 58.46% against 39.97% for his closest challenger. Populist President John Magufuli has 83 percent of votes with 60 percent of ballots counted, the electoral commission said on Friday. Few international observers were allowed to watch the vote [File: Patrick Meinhardt/AFP]But observers say Tanzania’s reputation for democratic ideals is crumbling, with Magufuli accused of severely stifling dissenting voices in his first five-year term. The fear of post-election violence lingers. The polls were being touted as a watershed moment for the country, faced with a choice between Magufuli's increasingly authoritarian rule, or preserving democracy. ", As for the future opposition, Andati says it's "not very good. Chadema's presidential candidate and main rival of Magufuli, Tundu Lissu, says his party will not recognize the official election results. Tanzania's two leading opposition parties said on Saturday they would not recognise the results of a presidential election that handed incumbent John Magufuli a second five-year term. Israel-Palestine conflict raises alarm across the world, Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights. Tanzania's President and Chama Cha Mapinduzi flagbearer John Magufuli (left) and former MP and presidential candidate for main opposition party Chadema Tundu Lissu. Tanzania elections: Opposition leader Tundu Lissu 'won't accept poll results' Published 29 October 2020 . US cites 'credible allegations' of fraud in Tanzania election. Andati also points out that Chadema's main leader, Tundu Lissu, was living in exile until recently, and despite being a popular figure, is no match for Magufuli's charisma. Read more: Tanzania votes in election married by fraud accusations. Magufuli was declared winner of Wednesday's election with 12.51 million votes (84 percent) against 1.93 million (13 percent) for his main challenger, Tundu Lissu from the leading opposition Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo. There was a strong military presence at polling stations across the Zanzibar archipelago. Copy link. The ruling CCM's grassroots network and use of state resources to win over voters also played a part. He was not even born in Zanzibar, and would have lost quite clearly.". But this overwhelming victory has both the opposition and foreign observers suspicious. Tanzania's populist President John Magufuli has been declared the overwhelming winner of a second term amid allegations of widespread election fraud, … Share page. Story by Reuters. "Magufuli is so hugely popular, he didn't need to intimidate the opposition, because the opposition is weak, they don't have the network CCM has. However, according to Kenyan political analyst Martin Andati, the scale of Magufuli's victory is not surprising. Over 10 people were reported dead following riots. "But this time, CCM had a problem because their candidate [Ali Hassan Mwinyi] was very unpopular. Populist President John Magufuli has 83 percent of votes with 60 percent of ballots counted, says Tanzania’s electoral commission. Thabit Jacob, a researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, says retaking opposition strongholds was a key goal for the CCM. Police, meanwhile, have denied their involvement. © 2021 Deutsche Welle | Few international observers were allowed to watch the vote. Some governing party leaders have called for that change. "The opposition is hoping to put pressure on embassies and other foreign players. "Historically, elections in Zanzibar are tightly contested," he explains. ", Read more: Tanzania: Opposition leader in Zanzibar arrested briefly on eve of vote. The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party has won 194 seats in the 393-member parliament, while opposition parties have managed to win just two, with the leaders of the two main opposition parties losing their seats. On Zanzibar, the results declared so far also suggest a landslide victory for the CCM. FILE PHOTOS | AFP. Populist President John Magufuli has 83 percent of votes with 60 percent of ballots counted, the electoral commission said […] "It seems that the way they deal with the mainland is different from the way they deal with Zanzibar, as if they regard Zanzibar as their colony.". The electoral commission has denied allegations of irregularities in the East African nation that is one of Africa’s most populous countries and fastest-growing economies. More by this Author . Updated 1337 GMT (2137 HKT) October 30, 2020 . “29 #October 2020: One of the most most gloomy days in the political #history of #Tanzania,” tweeted Chambi Chachage, a lecturer in African studies at Princeton University. Tanzania's populist leader declared winner of flawed vote Tanzania’s populist President John Magufuli has been declared the overwhelming winner of a second term amid allegations of widespread election fraud By The Associated Press October 30, 2020, 1:04 PM Media outlets have been targeted. President John Magufuli has taken the biggest majority since multi-party elections began in 1995. "It is a fraud, an electoral fraud of a magnitude that is unprecedented in our entire history," he told reporters in Dar es Salaam. Tanzania's president poised to be declared election winner despite allegations of fraud Friday October 30, 2020 The ruling party CCM presidential candidate Dr John Magufuli casts his vote at Chamwino in Dodoma Wednesday. Stringer/The Associated Press Tanzania’s populist President John Magufuli has been declared the overwhelming winner of a second term amid … NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Tanzania’s populist President John Magufuli has been declared the overwhelming winner of a second term amid allegations of widespread election fraud, while the … It noted a heavy deployment of military and police whose conduct created a “climate of fear”. Assembly: Tanzania has a unicameral National Assembly (Bunge) with 357 seats. By AGGREY MUTAMBO. "Here in Zanzibar, every polling station is surrounded by military and other armed forces," he said. We will sample your texts in our show. Electoral System: Since the introduction of multiparty elections in 1995, the uses a first-past-the-post system to determine the composition of the National Legislature, with a separate winner takes all ballot directly electing the President. Other major Chadema figures, including Freeman Mbowe, Godbless Lema and Peter Msigwa have also lost their constituencies. "The opposition was disjointed, but even if they were united they would not have won. “The electoral process, so far, falls way below the acceptable international standards” for holding free and fair elections, the group said. General elections were held in Tanzania on 25 October 2015. The Tanzanian Election Commission declared John Magufuli, candidate for a second five-year term, the winner of the presidential election on Friday evening. Analyst Martin Andati believes the international community will have to keep Magufuli and his party in check, as the Tanzanian opposition has proven itself incapable of doing so. His rival, opposition leader Tundu Lissu, won only 13% of the vote. Opposition political gatherings were banned in 2016, the year after he took office. Some candidates were arrested, prevented from campaigning or disqualified ahead of the vote. DODOMA, TANZANIA -- Tanzania's populist President John Magufuli has been declared the overwhelming winner of a second term amid allegations of widespread election fraud, while the … Otherwise they are going to be overrun. Tanzanian President John Magufuli won an election victory on Friday with 84% of the vote, according to the country's National Electoral Commission. About … The presidential election was won by incumbent John Magufuli of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi party. Analyst Thabit Jacob agrees that voters suddenly voting CCM over the oppositions is suspicious. Magufuli has pointed to the country’s achievement of lower-middle-income status as one reason he deserves another term. "The polling in many parts of the country took place under conditions that cannot be described as conditions for free, fair and credible elections.". DAR ES SALAAM - Tanzanian President John Magufuli has officially won a second term, with a landslide victory of more than 84% of the vote in this … The presidential candidate with the other main opposition party, ACT Wazalendo, in the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar was arrested on Thursday for the second time this week, then released and told to report to police on Friday. This was the sixth election since multi-party politics was reinstated in Tanzania in 1992. What led to the most recent Israel-Palestine escalation? The vote “marked the most significant backsliding in Tanzania’s democratic credentials”, Tanzania Elections Watch, a group of regional experts, said in an assessment released on Friday. In a historical context, CCM winning the majority of the vote is "absolutely unthinkable," Jacob adds. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi of the CCM has won on Zanzibar with 76% of the vote, but his victory has not been accepted by the opposition. Get to know our panel steering the regional election observation mission. "For the last 5 years Magufuli has been saying he wants the CCM to regain all those opposition strongholds, by all means possible," he told DW. He has since called the election fraudulent. By convention, the election was held on the last Sunday of October and was supervised by the National Electoral Commission (NEC). On Thursday, the United States embassy said there were "credible allegations of significant election-related fraud and intimidation," also citing allegations of multiple voting, pre-filling of ballots, the detention of candidates and protesters, restrictions on political parties' representatives to access polling stations and blocking of social media platforms. On Friday, Tanzania's National Electoral Commission declared Magufuli the winner of Wednesday's poll, with 84% of the vote against 13% for his opponent, Tundu Lissu of the Chadema party. NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Tanzania’s populist President John Magufuli has been declared the overwhelming winner of a second term amid allegations of widespread election fraud, while the ruling party won enough seats in parliament to change the constitution. ", Send Facebook Twitter reddit EMail Facebook Messenger Web Whatsapp Web Telegram linkedin. Tanzania elections: At-a-glance summary. | Mobile version, Tanzania votes in election married by fraud accusations, Opinion: Tanzania's 2020 election must reflect the will of the people, Tanzania: Opposition leader in Zanzibar arrested briefly on eve of vote, No end to harassment of Tanzania opposition, Tension between Tanzania's 'bulldozer' president and opposition. Contact ", Presidential candidate Tundu Lissu casts his ballot. Heavily armed police patrol polling stations in Zanzibar, Read more: Opinion: Tanzania's 2020 election must reflect the will of the people. ", Tanzanian voters queue at stations organized by the National Electoral Commission. But shortly after taking to the streets, he and his fellow party officials were arrested before later being released. Tanzania’s incumbent president is poised to be declared the overwhelming winner of Wednesday’s election despite widespread allegations of fraud, while the governing party appears to have secured the two-thirds majority in parliament required to change the constitution. Wednesday October 28 2020. Panel of Eminent Persons. The election has been marred by internet blackouts, allegations of voter intimidation in opposition strongholds, and the casting of "prefilled" ballots. Last … Read more: No end to harassment of Tanzania opposition. About 29 million Tanzanians head to the polls on … President John Magufuli, who is seeking a second five-year term as leader of the East Africa country, has fashioned himself as a nationalist ruler, who is against foreign interference and is intolerant of dissent. close. Tanzanian President John Magufuli won an election victory on Friday with 84% of the vote, according to the country's National Electoral Commission. Several observers have also severely criticized these repressive elections. ", "They need to come together so they can agree on a joint candidate that gives them a semblance of unity. But Jacob believes this is unlikely to change the outcome. "We are asking regional and international organizations that sent observers here, particularly the African Union (AU), not to confer any recognition to these illegitimate results," he said. TANZANIA’S president is poised to be declared the overwhelming winner of Wednesday’s election despite widespread allegations of fraud, while the ruling party appears to have secured the two-thirds majority in parliament required to change the constitution. Another ACT Wazalendo official in Zanzibar, Ismail Jussa, was badly beaten by soldiers and hospitalised, the party said. Advertisement. He was a member of the Uganda Constitutional Commission (The Odoki Commission) which drafted the Uganda 1995 Constitution. Tanzania Elections Watch . Now some worry that the governing party will use the super-majority in parliament to change the constitution to extend the two-term limit for the presidency. Political campaigns commenced on 22 August and ceased a day before the polling day. Chair. Zanzibar's ACT-Wazalendo party leader and presidential candidate, Seif Sharif Hamad, said his party would protest against the result. Send us a text at +49-160-9575 9510. International SMS charges apply. NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Tanzania’s populist President John Magufuli has been declared the overwhelming winner of a second term amid allegations of widespread election fraud, while the ruling party won enough seats in parliament to change the constitution. "Therefore, there seems to be no room for reconciliation between the two rival parties, though common Zanzibaris would have liked to have it. The ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi party (CCM) has seized almost every key opposition stronghold, even those which have consistently held an opposition majority since 1995. He was the Chairman of the Uganda Constitutional Review Commission which was charged with … But the opposition accuses the authorities of massive fraud. Before his arrest, ACT party leader Hamad branded this year's election a military exercise rather than a civilian one. Many Tanzanians watched in dismay. So results effectively wipe out the main opposition Chadema party in Tanzania's parliament. General elections were held in Tanzania on 28 October 2020 to elect the President and National Assembly. Privacy Policy | As well as taking part in the Tanzanian elections, voters on the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar were also electing their own president, and the CCM candidate Hussein Mwinyi … "And that's exactly what he has done. According to Tanzanian analyst Jenerali Ulimwengu, this effectively makes Tanzania a "one-party state.". With preliminary election results already being bitterly contested, and widespread allegations of ballot stuffing, intimidation and fraud, hope for a reconciliatory way out is fading, according to Mzuri Issa, the head of Tanzania's Media Women Association (TAMWA) in Zanzibar. Main opposition presidential candidate Tundu Lissu of the CHADEMA party, who has received 14 percent of the vote so far, has rejected the election and called for protests. Got an opinion about the stories making headlines? President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated Tanzania and its re-elected President John Magufuli ‘for upholding democratic principles and holding peaceful elections’. We use cookies to improve our service for you. ‘Revisionist history’: Trump allies, Democrats spar over riot, Bosnian Serb ex-leader Karadzic to serve genocide term in UK jail, Brazil judge provides a lifeline for threatened Indigenous tribe, Migrant arrivals at US-Mexico border rose slightly in April, Hamas fires more rockets after Israel destroys third Gaza tower, Israel must be taught a ‘lesson’, Erdogan tells Putin. According to Tanzania’s election authority, more than 29 million people have registered to vote. Tanzania's Zanzibar archepelago experienced unrest during the polls. The United States has said, “Irregularities and the overwhelming margins of victory raise serious doubts about the credibility of the results.”. Reports from opposition strongholds described attacks on civilians. 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