DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AP) – Tanzania’s ruling party has won the country’s presidential election, defeating an opposition alliance that had hoped to end the party’s five-decade grip on power, the country’s election commission announced on Thursday.
John Magufuli, the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (Revolutionary Party) candidate, won with 58 percent of the votes cast. Edward Lowassa of the Chadema party and who was also backed by three other parties, got 40 percent of votes, said Damian Lubuva, the head of the election commission. He made the announcement in Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam.
Magufuli has been serving as public works minister in the government of the outgoing president, Jakaya Kikwete. Lowassa, who served as prime minister from 2005 to 2008, used to belong to the ruling party but defected after failing to become its presidential candidate.
Both candidates drew crowds during campaigns across the country and it was the country’s closest election.
Lowassa said Wednesday he is disputing some results and wants a recount, and accused the election commission of posting some false results in favor of Magufuli.