Tanzanians turned out in large numbers for the general election Sunday, with many lining up before the polls opened — some looking for the change promised by opposition party Chadema, while others pleased with the work that ruling party CCM has been doing.

The normally busy streets of Dar es Salaam were noticeably quiet Sunday, as traffic was restricted for Tanzania’s much-anticipated election day, considered by analysts to be a tight race in the East African country.

Voters turned up at various polling stations around town, starting even before 7 a.m. (0400 GMT) when the polls opened to vote in presidential, parliamentary and local elections.

Candidates

The long-time ruling CCM party is facing increasing pressure to speed up the country’s development and tackle its persistent poverty rate, but analysts still predict a victory for CCM.

Tanzania’s Minister of Works John Magufuli, 55, is the presidential candidate for the CCM. Opposition party Chadema selected former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa, 62, as its candidate.

Both Magufuli and Lowassa have made repeated calls for the preservation of peace and national unity in speeches denouncing tribalism, religious violence and corruption.

Analysts have warned that the unusually tight race could spark tensions, with the opposition providing the first credible challenge to the CCM since the introduction of multiparty democracy in 1995.

Pleased with progress

Lightness Mwipopo, a domestic elections observers, said she was pleased with what she is seeing at a polling station in Msasani after just a few hours of polling.

“So far, the elections are going well and everything is going well right now,” Mwipopo said.

Voter Kalista Nkone, who said she had been waiting more than 2.5 hours for her turn to vote in Mbuyuni, said it seemed well-organized.

“For this station, I say it’s good. People are going well and there are lines. We are waiting for the names so as we can be called and get in for voting,” Nkone said.

At Msasani, voter Sagana Disanas agreed things were going well.

“Yeah, of course, voting is going very well, perfectly, as you can see, people actually are here, just trying to elect their presidents and some of their leaders, local leaders. It’s perfect well and security is quite awesome,” Disanas said.

Flora Mazengo , election registering officer in Kinondoni, said the election highlights a more important point for Tanzania: “This is a free and fair election, democracy is improving in our country.”

Term limits

Current President Jakaya Kikwete is completing his two five-year terms, as allowed by the constitution. Tanzania has a long history of presidents observing term limits, unlike many other African countries.

More than 140 international poll observer missions are in the country to monitor Sunday’s presidential, parliamentary and local elections.

Polls close as 4 p.m. (1300 GMT).

In addition to the presidential race, voters will also be casting ballots in parliamentary and local polls Sunday, including on the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar, just off mainland Tanzania, which will also hold its own presidential elections.​

There have been some reports of skirmishes at polling stations over a lack of or incorrect ballot papers. But domestic, international, and party election monitors so far seem to agree that things are going well.

Results

The National Electoral Commission of Tanzania said it expects to announce the winner of the presidential vote within three days. Tanzania’s constitution provides for the independence of the electoral commission from the government.

According to the World Bank, Tanzania’s population between the ages of 14 and 25 almost doubled in 20 years, from 4.4 million in 1990 to 8.1 million in 2010. It is expected to increase to 11 million by 2020 – numbers that should be of great interest to Tanzania’s politicians, regardless of political party.

Tanzania is thought to have one of the world’s largest populations of albinos – people who lack normal pigmentation resulting in abnormally white skin and hair.

They are often attacked in Tanzania for their body parts, which some people believe contain mystical powers. The demand for good luck charms was on the rise during the political campaigns.

The Tanzania Albinism Society said several albinos have been killed in the run-up to the elections.
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