The African Elections Project : your authoritative African Elections Information and Knowledge online portal, covering elections across the continent
Projecto Eleições Africanas: seu portal autorizado para informação e conhecimento sobre Eleições Africanas. Cobrindo eleições por toda Áfrca.
Le projet sur les elections en Afrique: votre portail exclusif et credible d'information et de connaissance en ligne, qui couvre les élections à travers le continent
Fact Sheets
Tanzania: Elections 2015 Fact Sheet
Background Following Germany’s defeat in World War one, Britain took over administration of Tanzania in 1919. In 1948, a group of young locals banded together in protest of colonial rule and 5 years later this group became the political body Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) lead by Julius Nyerere.
In 1961 Britain left Tanganyika and subsequently Zanzibar in 1963 and so Tanzania gained its independence. In 1964 the two territories joined together to become the United Republic of Tanzania. For 24 years Nyerere, who they called Mwalimu (meaning teacher) ruled Tanzania as a one party state with a socialist model for development. During the reign of Nyerere, Tanzania saw great advances in areas such as education and healthcare, but many argued his socialist values hindered the country’s economic development, and he resigned in 1985.
Following on from the resignation of Nyerere, the country has instituted a two-term presidential term limit. In 1992 the government decided to adopt a multi-party democracy in which 11 parties were registered. The country has held this democracy ever since. This will be the 5th multiparty election to take place in Tanzania.
Below are some facts and figures about the 25th October 2015 general elections: Last Presidential Elections Date: 10th October 2015 Current President: Jakaya Kikwete Current Prime Minister: Mizengo Pinda Official Start of Campaign: 22nd August 2015 Electoral Management Body: National Electoral Commission (NEC): http://www.nec.go.tz/
• Tanzania has a unicameral National Assembly (Bunge) with 357 seats. 102 seats are reserved for women
• Women occupy 126 (36%) of 357seats in the National Assembly (Bunge)
• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term.
• Tanzania has 22 registered parties under the Political Parties Act of 1992.
• According to the National Electoral Commission, the results of presidential election is expect to be announced at least three days after the polls.
• Over 140 observer groups will monitor the elections. Out of this, the African Union is sending 50 whilst the East African Community (EAC) has a 55 member team.
• Tanzania has an estimated population of 49,639,138 (24,912,441 females representing 50.19 % and 24,726,697 males representing 49.81%)
• An estimated 19,670,631 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the October 25 poll.
• 239 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 5-year terms in the National Assembly (Bunge) whilst 102 members are reserved for women for a 5-year term.
• 5 members are allotted to members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives to serve 5-year terms and 10 members are appointed by the President to serve 5-year terms.
• 7 presidential candidates, including a woman will contest Sunday’s poll.
• The vote is seen as a two horse race between John Pombe Magufuli of National Coalition for Change CCM and Edward Lowasa of Ukawa.
• The poll is considered to be the most tightly contested and competitive in the history of Tanzania’s democracy.
• Edward Ngoyai Lowassa, a former prime minister defected from the governing CCM to the opposition and was given the presidential ticket by a coalition (Chadema, NCCR-Mageuzi, Civic United Front of Zanzibar and Union for the People's Constitution).
• The 2015 general elections will be the 5th election since the restoration of multi-party democracy in 1992.
• Campaign ends a day before polling.
• As part of the voting process, presiding officers and political party agents are free to ask any question for more verification from the voter.
• The presiding officer reads prospective voter’s name loudly for Political Party Agents verification.
• A voter is required to mark ‘’ on the box under the candidate of their choice to vote.
• The elections are in threefold: President, Member of Parliament, and councilor elections.
Leading Candidates, respective parties and relevant links: Edward Ngoyai Lowassa: UKAWA (Coalition consists of Party for Democracy and Progress (CHADEMA) / Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo, NCCR-Mageuzi, Civic United Front of Zanzibar and Union for the People's Constitution).
Lowassa Website: http://www.elowassa.com// http://www.teamlowassa.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdwardLowassaTZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/edward-ngoyai-lowassa/92/ab8/777 Party Website: http://chadema.or.tz/ Blog: Party Website: http://chadema.or.tz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChademaInBlood?fref=ts Twitter: https://twitter.com/CHADEMA
John Pombe Magufuli: Party of the Revolution (CCM) / Chama cha Mapinduzi Website: http://ccm.or.tz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RaisJohnPombeMagufuli/ https://www.facebook.com/tzmagufuli Facebook page of Party: https://www.facebook.com/ChamaChaMapinduziTanzania Blog: http://ccmchama.blogspot.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccm_tanzania Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-vpGdriI45LJMLBkU_wXYQ
Fahmi Nassoro Dovutwa: United People’s Democratic Party (UPDP) Website: http://udp.org.bz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/udp.belize Twitter: https://twitter.com/UDPBelize Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/UDPBelize
Anna Elisha Mghwira: Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-WAZALENDO) Website: www.actwazalendo.or.tz Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/ACT-Tanzania/924670980889820?ref=hl Twitter: https://twitter.com/actwazalendo
Janken Malik Kasambala: National Reconstruction Alliance (NRA) https://rankly.com/item/national-reconstruction-alliance
Hashim Rungwe Spunda: Chama cha Ukombozi wa Umma (CHAUMMA)
Machmillan Elifatio Lyimo: Tanzania Labour Party (TLP)
Other relevant links: www.africanelections.org http://africanelections.tripod.com/tz.html http://www.africaresearchinstitute.org/blog/2015-elections-africa/ http://allafrica.com/tanzania/ http://www.dailynews.co.tz/ http://www.topix.com/world/tanzania http://www.nec.go.tz/
AEP
Get the latest news and updates on elections in Africa by following us on twitter @africanelection and like our facebook page
