Main opposition candidate Edward Lowassa has rejected the results of Tanzania’s presidential election, citing alleged fraud. Lowassa told reporters Wednesday in Dar es Salaam that results from the opposition coalition’s tallying unit showed the opposition leading the vote count before police raided the unit Monday. The opposition Chadema party, part of the coalition, said police detained 40 of its volunteers who were tallying results. The police commissioner said the arrests were based on “violations of electoral procedures.” There was no immediate comment from the ruling CCM party.
The latest official results from Tanzania’s election commission, released Wednesday evening, showed Lowassa, of the Chadema party, trailing CCM candidate John Magufuli 59 percent to 40 percent. The tally covered results from 184 out of 264 constituencies, or about 70 percent. Final presidential results are expected Thursday.
Lowassa’s rejection threw more uncertainty into an election disrupted by the annulment of the vote in Tanzania’s Zanzibar region.
Zanzibar’s election commission said Wednesday that the results were nullified because of “gross violations” in the voting process. Jecha Salim, chairman of Zanzibar’s election commission, said there was a need to hold fresh elections in the archipelago.
Full Article: Tanzania Opposition Rejects Presidential Vote Results.
