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Tanzania Elections: Tundu Lissu Rejects Poll Results [VIDEO]

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Tanzanian Presidential candidates Tundu Lissu (left) and incumbent John Pombe Magufuli
Tanzanian Presidential candidates Tundu Lissu (left) and incumbent John Pombe Magufuli
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Tundu Lissu, the main challenger to incumbent Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli, on Thursday, October 29 rejected results of the Presidential election.

While final results were yet to be declared by the electoral commission, early numbers from various constituencies showed Magufuli firmly in the lead.

Lissu and his Chama Cha Demokrasia (Chadema) claimed that the electoral process was flawed, and marred by irregularities.

The opposition leader called for the international community, including neighboring countries such as Kenya, not to endorse the results.

CHADEMA presidential candidate Tundu Lissu speaks at a past campaign event

In a pointer to what could be the next frontier in the political battle, Lissu further urged Tanzanians to prepare for nationwide protests in response to the alleged fraud.

“To the community of nations, to the neighboring countries in the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), all the groups that had observers here for the election need to release true reports stating what happened here.

“We want Tanzanians to be ready to take action through public demonstrations, this country is yours,” he stated.

READ>>>>>Tanzania Lifts Suspension of Kenyan Flights

He alleged that ballot boxes had been carried away from polling stations by security officers to facilitate the alleged rigging.

“In line with the electoral laws, once the results are announced in the polling stations, they are supposed to be stamped for the public to see. That did not happen, security officials took away the boxes, later to see CCM candidates declared winners,” he maintained.

Magufuli had already attracted criticism from various groups over the handling of the polls, particularly with questions on press freedom and restrictions on opposition campaigns.

Claims had also surfaced of use of mobile networks to censor various election-related messages.

Magufuli and the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) have, however, maintained that the elections were free and fair.

SEE ALSO>>>>>Tanzania Publishes Regulations to Clamp Down on International Media

Watch Lissu’s press conference below:

Written by
MARTIN SIELE -

Martin K.N Siele is the Content Lead at Business Today. He is also a Quartz contributor and a 2021 Baraza Media Lab-Fringe Graph Data Storytelling Fellow. Passionate about digital media, sports and entertainment, Siele also founded Loud.co.ke

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