Tanzania's ruling party candidate in early lead

Jakaya Kikwete, presidential candidate for the ruling Revolutionary Party, took an early lead today in Tanzania’s third elections since multi-party politics were reintroduced in 1992.

He carried 13 constituencies out of 17 declared, the National Electoral Commission said.

These are the first provisional results of the Wednesday vote announced by electoral officials in a slow counting and verification process.

Officials did not release any results for the parliamentary or local government elections in which about 16 million of Tanzania’s estimated 38 million people were registered to vote as well.

No turnout figures have yet been released.

Ibrahim Lipumba, presidential candidate for the main opposition party, the Civic United Front, carried four constituencies, the National Electoral Commission said today.

Kikwete, who is foreign minister in the outgoing government, collapsed while addressing thousands of supporters on the last day of campaigning on Tuesday. But within a few hours he was telling reporters at his home in this commercial capital that he was fine and simply exhausted.

The reformed socialist ruling party, known in Swahili as Chama Cha Mapinduzi, has ruled the country for more than 30 years.

It was expected to win, but lose seats in parliament to opposition parties that sought to capitalise on public anger over allegations of corruption.

Voters are also unhappy with the ruling party’s failure to curb growing unemployment and improve living conditions for the majority of Tanzanians.

The vote had been scheduled for October 30, but was postponed because of the death of a vice presidential candidate from an opposition party.

On Wednesday, there was scattered violence in the Zanzibar archipelago as people cast their votes and police said yesterday that they had arrested 40 people in connection with the violence.