Politics
Tanzania elections: Campaigns intensify ahead of Oct. 25 vote
With three weeks left until elections in Tanzania, East Africa’s most populous nation, campaigns are intensifying ahead of what is expected to be tightest electoral race in the country’s history.
The front-runner in the presidential race appears to be John Magufuli, candidate for the long-ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), who is hoping to succeed President Jakaya Kikwete, who is stepping down after the constitutional two-term limit.
Magufuli, 55, is facing a stiff challenge, from the main opposition parties who have rallied around ex-prime minister Edward Lowassa, 62, who recently defected from the CCM to the opposition CHADEMA, heading a coalition of parties.
“Both candidates seem to be propagating similar policies – such as fighting graft, conquering poverty, solving unemployment and land disputes,” University of Dar es Salaam lecturer Benson Bana told reporters.
Six other hopefuls are in the race.
As well as a presidential race, voters will also be casting ballots in parliamentary and local elections on October 25, including on the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar.
But it is the campaign rallies of the CCM’s Magufuli – currently minister of works – and CHADEMA’s Lowassa – prime minister from 2005 to 2008 before resigning over corruption allegations despite stringent denials – that are attracting the largest crowds.
Lowassa joined the opposition after losing to Magufuli in his bid to become the party’s presidential candidate in July.
Despite impressive economic growth, little of that has trickled down to the majority, and unemployment numbers remain quite high. Agriculture is the key sector, providing a quarter of gross domestic product and employing three-quarters of the population.
With two-thirds of its 50 million citizens living in poverty, few enjoy the benefits of the country’s remarkable economic growth, which has averaged around 7 percent over the past decade.
Campaigning – which began on August 22 and will close a day before voting on October 24.
The ruling CCM party has dominated politics in Tanzania, and currently has two-thirds of seats in parliament. But it has been weakened by internal splits and a string of graft scandals, and recently suffered defections of high-profile members – including ex-prime minister Frederick Sumaye and former home affairs minister Lawrence Masha – to the opposition coalition.
Other parties in the opposition coalition are NCCR-Mageuzi, National League for Democracy(NLD) and Civic United Front (CUF).