Tanzanian President John Magufuli was re-elected Friday, October 30, for a second term after general elections marked by the virtual disappearance of the parliamentary opposition.
The outgoing president, 61, nicknamed the '
Bulldozer
', is credited with 84.39% of the vote - up from 58% when he won in 2015 - while his main rival Tundu Lissu, 52, totals just 13.03 % of votes, according to the final results proclaimed by the Election Commission (NEC).
The rest of the votes are scattered among the 13 other candidates.
Magufuli's party, the CCM, in power continuously since independence, also won almost all of the 264 seats in Parliament allocated in the legislative ballot coupled with the presidential election, according to the latest results published by the NEC.
This overwhelming victory is in line with Magufuli's first term in office, characterized by a sharp decline in fundamental freedoms and an increase in attacks against the opposition, according to human rights organizations.
"
Massive
" frauds
denounced by the opposition
The opposition calls Wednesday's election a "
total sham
" marred by massive fraud.
It
was
"
not an election
" but the work of a "
gang that decided to stay in power at all costs
", Lissu accused Thursday, rejecting in advance "
illegitimate
"
results
.
"
Democratic change is not possible in Tanzania,
" he lamented, denouncing "
electoral fraud on an unprecedented scale
" in the country.
Tanzania does not allow legal challenges to the outcome of the presidential election - a possible legislative process - and Lissu called on his supporters for “
democratic and peaceful
”
protests
and support from the international community.
"
We are concerned about credible reports of electoral irregularities and the use of force against unarmed civilians, and we will hold those responsible to account,
" said US State Department spokeswoman Morgan. Ortagus, on Twitter.
