Samia Suluhu declared winner of Tanzania’s presidential election with 31m votes
President Samia Suluhu has secured her second term in office following her landslide win in the presidential vote taken on October 29
President Samia Suluhu has secured her second term in office following her landslide win in the presidential vote taken on October 29.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday, November 1, announced that Samia had amassed over 31 million votes, accounting for 97.66% of the total ballots cast, to be declared the winner.
She vied on a Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) ticket.
“Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan of CCM got 31,913,866 votes, being 97.66% of the votes. In observance of the relevant constitution and the laws of the United Republic of Tanzania, I declare Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan as having been elected the president of the United Republic of Tanzania,” announced INEC chairman Jacobs Mwambegele Saturday morning, November 1.
The results came in the wake of violent protests reported in the country as civilians took to the streets to demand the integrity of the vote, as they decried the banning of the president’s biggest challengers from partaking in the election.
CHADEMA’s Tundu Lissu was locked out of the polls and got incarcerated for treason charges. Also blocked from the election was ACT-Wazalendo’s Luhaga Mpina.
The opposition claimed that at least 700 people had been killed ever since the violence erupted.
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But the government denied the reports, accusing the opposition of inflating and exaggerating the numbers for political expediency.
Meanwhile, foreign countries and missions have expressed their concerns over the situation in the country, seeming to cast doubts on the integrity of the election.
The United Nations, through its secretary general António Guterres, called on the government in Dodoma to act toward calm in the face of the protests.
“I am deeply concerned by the situation in Tanzania, including reports of deaths and injuries during demonstrations. I call on all to exercise restraint, reject violence, and engage in inclusive and constructive dialogue to prevent further escalation,” he said.
Foreign ministers from Canada, Norway, and the United Kingdom released a joint declaration voicing deep concern about developments in Tanzania after the national elections held on October 28 and 29.
They highlighted credible accounts indicating numerous deaths and serious injuries linked to the security forces’ handling of protests that erupted on October 29.
In their statement, the three governments called on Tanzanian officials to exercise utmost restraint and uphold the rights to peaceful assembly and free expression, in line with prior discussions held with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Earlier, the United States had cautioned its citizens to be wary of the situation and avoid being in volatile areas.
Little was known about Samia until March 2021, when she rose to power following the death of President John Magufuli.
She was the vice president of Tanzania until Magufuli’s death.
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