Tanzania: President elected for second term

Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete won a second term in office with 61% of the vote, election officials said.

Mr Kikwete’s closest competitor in last weekend’s election, Wilbrod Slaa, won 26% of the vote.

Despite the win, Mr Kikwete’s margin of victory slipped from 2005 when he won 80% of the votes.

His victory means a second and final five-year term in office. Voters cast 5.2 million votes for the 60-year-old; turnout was 43%.

This is first time the opposition has put up a tough fight against the ruling party – the revolutionary party – which has been in power for nearly 50 years.

The ruling party will still dominate the parliament with about 70% of the seats.

Mr Kikwete said he would strive to keep his party’s pledge of improved health, education and infrastructure for Tanzanians in his next five years.

“I’ll live up to election pledges and meet the expectations of Tanzanians following the confidence demonstrated by the population through my re-election,” he said.

Mr Kikwete is expected to be sworn in today.