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TANZANIA: RULING PARTY CANDIDATE LEADS IN POLLS December 17, 2005
Apunyu Bonny
(SomaliNet) Tanzania’s presidential candidate of the ruling Revolutionary Party, Jakaya Kikwete took a tremendous lead Friday, 16th in the third election in this East African country since multiparty politics were reintroduced in 1992.
In this year’s Tanzanian polls, about 16 million of Tanzania's estimated 38 million people were registered to vote.
Kikwete took nearly 80 percent of the votes as well as 29 constituencies out of 34 declared, the National Electoral Commission said. His nearest rival, Ibrahim Lipumba of the Civic United Front, received 10 percent of the votes and five constituencies.
The ruling party has governed the country for more than 30 years. It was expected to win the election but lose parliamentary seats over corruption allegations. Voters are also unhappy with the party's failure to curb growing unemployment and improve living conditions for the majority of Tanzanians meanwhile, Jakaya Kikwete serves as foreign minister in the outgoing government.