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Ruling party set to win in Tanzanian poll
Despite the impending retirement of incumbent President Benjamin Mkapa, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term, the polls will almost certainly see the election of CCM nominee and current Foreign Minister Jakaya Kikwete, 55, to lead the Union of Tanzania, observers say. While violent clashes and allegations of widespread fraud marred polling that went ahead as scheduled on Zanzibar for the islandsâ presidency and local legislature, the extended campaign on the mainland has been relatively calm for the countryâs third multi-party elections. Ten of the 18 parties contesting the general election have put forward presidential candidates, but Kikwete looms large over Civic United Front leader Lipumba, 56, and the other main opposition candidate, Augustine Mrema, 60, of the Tanzanian Labor Party. Kikwete, who collapsed due to heat exhaution at his final rally on Tuesday, has spent much time in lavish state-funded campaign rallies, pledging to emulate Mkapa and his policies to fight poverty and boost development in the largely agrarian nation of 35 million. More than half the population and more than 80 percent of its working population are estimated to depend on agriculture, which is still recovering from earlier Wednesdayâs vote is Tanzaniaâs third since pluralism was restored in 1992, 31 years after it broke from British colonial rule and the opposition is hoping to boost its numbers in the parliament that sits in the northern city of Dodoma. CCM has been in power since the east African nation broke free from British colonists in 1961. Posted by: Steve White 2005-12-14 |
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| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=137374 |