By Abiola Olawale
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been declared the winner of Tanzania’s presidential election, securing a new five-year term with 97.66% of the vote.
The country’s electoral chief announced the landslide victory on Saturday, cementing Hassan’s position as the nation’s first elected female leader.
The victory for the incumbent, who took office in 2021 following the death of her predecessor, the late John Magufuli, comes amid the dominance of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party.
“I hereby announce Samia Suluhu Hassan as the winner of the presidential election under the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party,” Jacobs Mwambegele, the nation’s electoral chief, said on Saturday morning.
However, the declaration results came amid reports claiming that over 500 individuals reportedly lost their lives during protests that erupted across the country.
Recall also that several opposition leaders were reportedly disqualified from participating in the election.
Chadema, the country’s largest opposition party, boycotted the election after its leader, Tundu Lissu, was imprisoned ahead of the polls.
Luhaga Mpina, the presidential candidate for the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo), the second-largest opposing party, was disqualified by the electoral umpire.
