Tanzania Annuls Presidential Vote In Zanzibar

The electoral commission in Tanzania on Wednesday October 28, 2015 annulled the results of the semi-autonomous Zanzibar island citing massive irregularities.
Zanzibar Electoral Commission cited “double voting” and cheating while annulling the results of the elections and said they will have to be done afresh.
According to AFP reporter, shots were heard overnight, and that the streets were largely empty on Wednesday, with many shops closed and people saying they were fearful of going out.

“Police on the Indian Ocean islands fired tear gas to break up crowds, while foreign embassies warned visitors to the popular tourist destination to avoid large crowds,” AFP reports.

Seif Sharif Hamad, from the opposition Civic United Front who was the vice-president in the previous unity government, told reporters he had won the polls.
He claimed to have seen official documents of final voting figures.

 Wednesday, October 28 while the election commission called for calm and warned only they can declare results.
The presidential battle is between former prime minister Edward Lowassa of  Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) and John Magufuli of  Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), former minister in the previous government.
Already, Pombe Magufuli has declared himself winner
But Chadema, the official opposition party has faulted the National Electoral Commission for widespread rigging in the presidential polls.
According to Tuesday’s evening results, Magufuli had extended his lead in the race to State House by a margin of 453,359 vote.
He had  1,693,899 votes against his closest contestant Lowassa’s 1,240,540 votes.

Analysts have warned that the unusually tight race could spark tensions, with the opposition providing the first credible challenge to the CCM since the introduction of multi-party democracy in 1995.

“Let election officials in districts announce results of parliamentary and civic polls, while NEC will release results in presidential election,” Lubuva said.

“If this is not controlled it can trigger confusion and public unrest.”

The results are from 88 constituencies tallied out of 264 constituencies. From the remaining 176 constituencies, Magufuli will hope he will have more votes to beat Lowassa to be the next occupant of State House for the next five years.

Tanzanians went to the polls on Sunday October 25 to seek replacement of the current president Jakaya Kikwete whose two terms in office have ended.
The country’s constitution only allows heads of State a limit of two terms.

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