Jonathan calls for peace as Tanzanias go to the poll

Jonathan Good luck, former President of Nigeria has urged the people of Tanzania to embrace peace and deepen democracy.

Goodluck Jonathan made this call on Wednesday as Tanzanians vote in presidential election amid fears of violence.

Analysts say President John Magufuli is likely to win re-election as opposition alleges ‘widespread irregularities’.

Jonathan, who leads the African Union Expert Election Observer Team, visited polling stations in Dar es Salaam, the country’s capital.

On his Facebook page on Wednesday, Jonathan  said, “The African Union Expert Election Observer Team which I lead visited some polling stations in Dar es Salaam this morning as voting got underway in Tanzania’s general elections.

“The African Union sees today’s polls as yet another opportunity for Tanzanias to deepen democracy and peace.”

In an earlier statement Jonathan called for peaceful, inclusive and credible polls.

He urged all stakeholders, political parties and their supporters “to participate in the voting process peacefully and to refrain from any acts of violence.

Incumbent President John Magufuli is seeking re-election on the mainland among a crowded field of 15 contenders. He is the candidate of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which has uninterruptedly governed Tanzania – along with its predecessor, the Tanzania African National Union party (TANU) – since independence in 1961.

John Magufuli

John Magufuli, 60, is seeking a second and final five-year term in office. Opinion polls have been banned, making it difficult to predict the outcome. But many analysts see Magufuli as having strong chances of re-election.

The main challenger, Tundu Lissu has been a  staunch critic of Magufuli. Tundu Lissu is the candidate for the main opposition party Chadema.

The 52-year-old’s hopes of causing an upset were boosted after his recent endorsement by leaders of the ACT-Wazalendo party. It has been dubbed as a “loose” coalition between the country’s two leading opposition parties.

In 2017, Lissu survived an assassination attempt in the administrative capital, Dodoma, when he was shot 16 times by unknown attackers. He spent nearly three years in exile, first in neighbouring Kenya and then Belgium, where he underwent more than a dozen surgeries.

A lawyer by training and a fan of reggae music, Lissu entered politics in 2010. He won a parliamentary seat to represent his home region of Singida East. Over the years, he developed a strong reputation as a fierce government critic and became the chief whip of Chadema.

Other presidential challengers include former Foreign Minister Bernard Membe and economist-turned-politician Ibrahim Lipumba.