Some candidates were arrested, blocked from campaigning or disqualified ahead of the vote. ARTICLE 19 is extremely concerned about the shrinking civic space in Tanzania ahead of the elections on 28 October 2020. On Wednesday, the commission denied allegations of fake ballots, saying they were unofficial and unsubstantiated. Oct. 28, 2020. Media outlets have been targeted. The ruling party CCM presidential candidate Dr. John Magufuli casts his vote at Chamwino in Dodoma Wednesday. It noted a heavy deployment of military and police whose conduct created a “climate of fear.”. Top … A version of the CCM has held power in Tanzania since independence from Britain in 1961. The government is not only cracking down on media, but also undermining the ability of political parties to campaign and seek justice. Last modified on Fri 30 Oct 2020 17.54 EDT. B ACK IN JANUARY John Magufuli, Tanzania’s president, vowed that elections scheduled for October 28th would be free and fair. "This was a mockery of elections, a mockery of democracy," he said. Additionally, the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar will hold elections to choose its president, most of the 88 members of its unicameral House of Representatives, and local councillors. Oct. 28, 2020. Tanzanians are heading to the polls on the 28 th October. He is in hospital. In January 2020, President Magufuli assured diplomats based in the East African nation of a fair, free and peaceful October 2020 general elections. The United States has said that “irregularities and the overwhelming margins of victory raise serious doubts about the credibility of the results announced.”. Zitto Kabwe, ACT-Wazalendo party leader, said one of his colleagues in Zanzibar was beaten. A Tanzanian casts his ballot at a Buguruni polling station during the local elections in Dar es Salaam city on November 24, 2019. The election is widely seen as a referendum on Mr. Magufuli, who is seeking a second five-year term, and on the governing Party of the Revolution, … "We are not accepting anything that has been done, and any results," he later told reporters. Tanzania sets October 28 date for elections. Tanzania authorities have stepped up repression of opposition parties, nongovernmental organizations, and the media ahead of the country’s general elections on October 28… Pre-Election Statement by the Tanzania Elections Watch Panel ahead of the General Elections on 28 October 2020 The Panel is, however, deeply concerned over reports of escalating tension in Zanzibar on the eve of the polls. Seif Sharif Hamad, the opposition ACT-Wazalendo's presidential candidate in Zanzibar, and other leaders were arrested, his party said, after he called for protests earlier on Thursday. Government spokesman Hassan Abbasi could not be reached for comment. Published: October 29, 2020, ... Few international observers were present for Tanzania's election, however, with some like the European Union not invited, unlike in previous years. Tanzania's president wins re-election amid claims of fraud. The national electoral commission late Friday said Magufuli received 12.5 million votes, or 84%, while top opposition candidate Tundu Lissu received 1.9 million, or 13%. The presidential election in Tanzania on October 28. REUTERS/Stringer “It is getting harder. NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Tanzania’s populist President John Magufuli has been declared the overwhelming winner of a second term amid allegations of widespread election fraud, while the ruling party won enough seats in parliament to change the constitution. ... October 30, 2020 … But observers say Tanzania’s reputation for democratic ideals is crumbling, with Magufuli accused of severely stifling dissenting voices in his first five-year term. Magufuli is seeking a second, five-year term in the poll. Opposition in Zanzibar says candidate detained, people shot ahead of vote. "The results should not be recognized by any country in the world, should not be recognized by the African Union and the Commonwealth," Lissu told Reuters. Tanzania elections: Main opposition parties demand fresh vote. Ad. It won the presidency with 58% of votes in 2015 and now holds about three-quarters of parliamentary seats. (AP Photo), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. A major opposition party in Tanzania is accusing police of shooting dead at least nine citizens amid unrest over alleged fraud on the eve of the country's presidential election… Tanzania's main opposition presidential candidate Tundu Lissu, speaks during a Reuters interview in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania October 7, 2020. The ACT Wazalendo presidential candidate in Zanzibar was arrested on Thursday for the second time this week before being released. Introduction. Share page. Tuesday July 21 2020. "Detaining opposition leaders is not the act of a government confident in its electoral victory," US ambassador to Tanzania Donald Wright said in a tweet. Lissu, 52, was shot 16 times in 2017 in what remains an unsolved case. Some in the ruling party had called for the presidency’s two-term limit to be extended if enough parliament seats could be secured. The vote “marked the most significant backsliding in Tanzania’s democratic credentials,” Tanzania Elections Watch, a group of regional experts, said in an assessment released Friday. — Freeman Mbowe (@freemanmbowetz) October 28, 2020. Tanzania elections 2020: ‘The country will go the way of Zimbabawe’ – Tundu Lissu By Anne-Marie Bissada Posted on Friday, 30 October 2020 21:05, updated on Monday, 2 November 2020 … October 27, 2020 GMT. Published 31 October 2020. There was no immediate comment by the president. Authorities have not issued a statement on the disruptions as of Tuesday afternoon. The populist Magufuli, who made his name in part by targeting corruption, now seeks a second five-year term in one of Africa's … The two main opposition parties, Lissu’s CHADEMA and ACT Wazalendo, planned to to hold a joint press conference on Saturday, a spokesman said. Top Stories. AF-UN-POD is African United Podcast that talks about African views. A voter casts her ballot at Wazo Hill polling station in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on October 28. A week earlier, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority issued operators with a directive to suspend bulk SMS and telephony services during the election … Oct. 31, 2020; CAIRO — After a pivotal poll marred by violence, opposition arrests and accusations of rigging, Tanzania’s electoral commission said … But the opposition and rights groups have complained that his administration has cracked down on critical voices, closing down media outlets and preventing opposition public rallies. Published 30 October 2020. Magufuli, 61, is looking to extend the rule of the CCM party. While campaigning, Magufuli pledged to boost growth in East Africa's third-largest economy with infrastructure projects kick-started in his first term. The US Embassy in the East African country said there had been "credible allegations of significant election-related fraud and intimidation" in Wednesday's poll in which voters were electing a president and lawmakers. Magufuli has pointed to the country’s achievement of lower-middle-income status as one reason he deserves another term. Its tradition of competitive political contest and inclusion, built since the restoration of multipartyism 25 years ago, has recently suffered severe setbacks because of shrinking civic space and low tolerance for political plurality. By convention, the election was held on the last Wednesday of October and is supervised by the Zanzibar Election … The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party won parliament seats in 253 of the 261 constituencies announced so far, achieving upsets in opposition strongholds by wide margins. The presidential election was won by incumbent John Magufuli of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi party. The opposition alleges widespread irregularities including double-voting and ballot box-seizing by security forces or other authorities. This 2020 election campaign session starts on August 26 and ends on October 27. General elections were held in Tanzania on 28 October 2020 to elect the President and National Assembly. Over 30 million Tanzanians out of a population of 55 million will vote for councilors, parliamentarians in the general elections. He returned from three years in exile in July. Tanzania: Election 2020 - Nearly Half of Registered Voters Stayed Away Ericky Boniphace/Deutsche Welle People queue to vote in Tanzania's election on October 28, 2020. Opposition political gatherings were banned in 2016, the year after he took office. By Anne-Marie Bissada, Nicholas Norbrook Posted on Wednesday, 28 October 2020 10:58, updated on Thursday, 29 October 2020 16:56 . General elections was held in Zanzibar on 28 October 2020 alongside the Tanzanian general elections to elect the President and National Assembly of the Semi-autonomous state of Zanzibar. The United States said on Thursday there were "serious doubts" about the credibility of Tanzania's presidential election while the leading opposition candidate urged countries not to recognize the results of a "travesty" of a poll. In Zanzibar, the CCM presidential candidate, Hussein Mwinyi, was declared the winner after securing 76% of the vote, the Zanzibar Electoral Commission announced. Oct. 28, 2020. The political opposition is rejecting early results of Tanzania’s presidential and parliamentary election, saying the vote was illegitimate due to widespread fraud. 1 of 7. Officials at the electoral commission were not immediately available for comment on allegations of irregularities. Europe divided over AstraZeneca jab suspensions. ... friendly institutions and the international community at large not to recognise the so-called General Election of October 28, 2020 and to take action against all those responsible for disrupting the entire General Election process,” said Mr Mbowe. He has an odd way of … close. Updated 1337 GMT (2137 HKT) October 30, 2020. Tanzania Election 2020: Opposition parties demand repeat of General election. Internet and text-messaging services slowed dramatically or disappeared. “The electoral process, so far, falls way below the acceptable international standards” for holding free and fair elections, the group said. Large crowds of ruling party supporters who had gathered to watch the election results were celebrating in the streets. Tundu Lissu, the main challenger to incumbent President John Magufuli, told Reuters the election results -- expected within a week -- could not be trusted. — NetBlocks (@netblocks) October 27, 2020. Concerns of post-election violence linger. Tanzania Election Tracker 2020. by Dr Craig Moffat and Monique Bennett and Sixolile Ngqwala | Oct 23, 2020 | GR TANZANIA. FILE PHOTO | … Turnout was roughly 50%, with 14.8 million people voting after 29 million registered. ... Tanzania Elections Watch, a regional initiative of prominent personalities, has pointed out hate speech and intimidation of candidates. Voters elect the president, Zanzibar House of Representatives and local government councillors. ... Fri 30 Oct 2020 16.51 EDT. On 1 April, 2020 the new Election Expenses Act was added to the books in Tanzania. Another ACT Wazalendo official there, Ismail Jussa, was badly beaten by soldiers and hospitalized, the party said. "Maalim Seif and his colleagues should be released immediately.". Voters will elect a president plus most of the 393 seats in the unicameral National Assembly. Tanzanian army personal vote in Dodoma during Tanzania election Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. The ruling party CCM presidential candidate Dr. John Magufuli casts his vote at Chamwino in Dodoma Wednesday. Tanzania’s election commission has set October 28 as the date for the country’s highly anticipated presidential election. The ruling party CCM presidential candidate Dr. John Magufuli casts his vote at Chamwino in Dodoma Wednesday. Lissu said his party's representatives had been prevented from getting into polling stations and that stuffed ballots had been forced into vote boxes. Tanzanians will head to the polls for the general election on October 28, 2020. This law takes control of the use of funds by candidates at the nomination, campaign and election … We talk about issues, News, Comedy, Poems, Religion, Dating, and other accomplishments. The populist Magufuli, who made his name in part by targeting corruption, now seeks a second five-year term in one of Africa's most populous and fastest-growing economies. "ACT-Wazalendo member of the Central Committee Ismail Jussa Ladhu was badly beaten today by security forces in Zanzibar. The government has denied stifling dissent. October 29, 2020, 6:10 PM ... a massive disruption in internet and text messaging services and the reported arrests of other candidates on election day. The United States said on Thursday there were "serious doubts" about the credibility of Tanzania's presidential election while the leading opposition candidate urged … Lissu has rejected the vote while alleging “widespread irregularities” and called for peaceful demonstrations. Elections took place simultaneously both in Tanzania and in the country's semi-autonomous state of Zanzibar, an Indian Ocean archipelago. ... Frederick Ssempebwa, who co-chairs Tanzania Elections Watch, said Wednesday's vote will be flawed if it's held under the current conditions. Tanzania is due to hold presidential and legislative elections on October 25, 2020. The vote was marred by allegations of arrests of candidates and protesters, restrictions on agents of political parties to access polling stations, multiple voting, pre-ticking of ballots and widespread blocking of social media, the US Embassy said. Tanzania elections: At-a-glance summary Wednesday October 28 2020 Tanzania's President and Chama Cha Mapinduzi flagbearer John Magufuli (left) and former MP and presidential candidate for main opposition party Chadema Tundu Lissu. October 25, 2020, 9:12 AM • 6 min read. He urged the world to take action against "those who perpetrated this travesty". Few international election observers were present, unlike in past years. An aide to the police commander in Mjini Magharibi where Hamad and others were reportedly arrested said his boss was in a meeting when Reuters sought comment. The East African nation is one of Africa’s most populous countries and fastest-growing economies. Preliminary results announced by the electoral commission showed Magufuli leading against his challengers. But electoral commission chair, Semistocles Kaijage, asserted in late Friday’s announcement that all the votes were legitimate. Share. Tanzania elections: President Magufuli in landslide win amid fraud claims. Tanzania elections 2020: John Magufuli in bitter race against Tundu Lissu. The opposition asserts that thousands of observers were turned away from polling stations on Wednesday, and that at least a dozen people were killed on the eve of the vote in the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar. final observation report on the general elections held in tanzania on october 28, 2020 Tanzania identifies itself as a democracy. ... 26 October 2020. Badly injured but alive," he said on Twitter. ... 26 October 2020.