Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania: Tanzania’s incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been re-elected after securing a landslide victory with 97.66 per cent of the total votes cast, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced on Saturday.
The win firmly cements Hassan’s position as the first elected female president in Tanzania’s history, a defining milestone for the East African nation.
President Hassan, who leads the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, first assumed office in March 2021 following the death of then-President John Pombe Magufuli due to heart complications. Her victory now grants her a full mandate to govern, marking a new chapter in Tanzania’s political landscape.
Tanzanians voted on Wednesday in general elections that were preceded by days of violent protests in some regions, prompting tight security measures at polling stations.
The national vote, held every five years, included the election of the President, Members of Parliament, and Local Council Representatives. According to INEC, 17 political parties fielded presidential candidates, while 18 others contested for parliamentary and local government seats.
President Hassan’s overwhelming victory has been hailed as a reflection of the ruling party’s enduring influence and her own leadership appeal, particularly for maintaining stability and continuity after Magufuli’s sudden death in 2021.
Her administration has been credited with adopting a more diplomatic governance style, prioritizing economic recovery, international cooperation, and political reconciliation after years of internal division.
With this win, President Hassan extends CCM’s 60-year dominance in Tanzanian politics, continuing the legacy of one of Africa’s longest-ruling political movements.
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