TANZANIA, where ruling party candidate John Magufuli was on Thursday declared the winner of a hotly contested presidential vote, has a history of troubled elections since a multi-party system was introduced 20 years ago…
1995: chaotic elections
On October 29, 1995, the East African country’s first multi-party general elections are organised in complete chaos.
Some polling stations do not have ballot boxes, voting papers, ink or personnel.
On November 19 a new vote is held in the capital Dar es Salaam, but few voters turn out, considering that the election, already won in the provinces by the outgoing majority, is a foregone conclusion.
Benjamin Mkapa, of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party is elected president and his party wins the legislative elections by a wide margin.
In the semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar, the opposition and international observers denounce a multitude of irregularities at local elections.
2000: Controversy at Zanzibar vote
On October 29, 2000, elections proceed normally on the mainland, with the outgoing Mkapa and the CCM assured of victory faced with a divided opposition.
However, in Zanzibar the opposition and international observers say the vote has been shambolic and fraud-ridden and the vote is re-organised in 16 voting districts a week later.
2005: more trouble in Zanzibar
On December 14, 2005, voting goes off calmly, except in Zanzibar where several dozen people are injured in unrest.
The same happened in October-November during elections organised in the archipelago during which Zanzibaris elected their own executive.
2010: Demonstrations mar vote count
On October 31, 2010, elections take place peacefully. But the five-day counting of votes is marred by several small demonstrations, accompanied by brawls.
Jakaya Kikwete is re-elected with 61.17 percent of the vote at elections in which the opposition gains ground in parliament.
In Zanzibar all is calm, thanks to a new constitutional provision under which the two leading parties share power.
2015: Disputed elections – vote annulled in Zanzibar
On October 25, 2015, Tanzanians go to the polls for presidential, legislative and local elections.
On the 28, the president of the electoral commission in Zanzibar decides on the annulment of the poll in the archipelago, citing fraud, and decides to call new elections.
The opposition calls on the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to put off publishing all the national results, accusing it of having rigged the vote, with the support of the ruling party.
But on October 29, the NEC announces the victory of the candidate of the ruling party, Magufuli, with more than 58 percent of the vote. The opposition promptly rejects the results and claims victory
