- Title: TANZANIA-ELECTION/CAMPAIGNING Final rallies ahead of Tanzania elections
- Date: 24th October 2015
- Summary: DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA (OCTOBER 24, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF OPPOSITION RALLY WITH CHEERING SUPPORTERS PEOPLE HOLDING POSERS IN SUPPORT OF OPPOSITION PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE EDWARD LOWASSA LOWASSA WALKING TO PODIUM CROWD CHEERING (SOUNDBITE) (Swahili) OPPOSITION PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, EDWARD LOWASSA, SAYING: "After everything I have said, I ask you with great humility to vote for tomorrow and make me president of the republic of Tanzania. With your support and I'm sure you have all the necessary tools let us finish the job tomorrow. We have a lot of support and we can finish this tomorrow." SUPPORTERS LOOKING ON OPPOSITION FLAG SUPPORTERS CHEERING (SOUNDBITE) (Swahili) OPPOSITION SUPPORTER, EMMANUEL PAUL, SAYING: "Lowassa knows the problems of Tanzanians. He has been around this country and has been a leader for a long time, and his work can be seen. Plus he has a good development track record that we can be proud of. For me, Lowassa is a people's person." VARIOUS OF CROWDS SUPPORTER FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Swahili) OPPOSITION SUPPORTER, JORAM MURAWA, SAYING: "I'm voting for Lowassa because his policies are good for us and they give us hope since we are tired with the CCM (Chama Cha Mapinduzi) government. There will be free education that will help many poor Tanzanians to take children to school." VARIOUS CROWDS LOOKING ON (SOUNDBITE) (English) POLITICAL ANALYST, BENARD BANA, SAYING: "There are no significant differences. They are all preaching change, they are all preaching change, that is their driving force and they think that is what Tanzanians want to hear. They have been with CCM for a long time, they are tired of the party and some of us do think the party has outlived its usefulness. They are all for change. If you focus on Magufuli he is directed and even is his promises to the electorate, they are grounded on particular socio-economic realities, but Lowassa is very ambitious, sometimes he is making promises which we know he can not deliver those promises." VARIOUS OF CROWDS (SOUNDBITE) (English) POLITICAL ANALYST, BERNARD BANA SAYING: "But the only thing that is weakening the coalition is the unprecedented coming of Lowassa after he was dropped in the CCM presidential race. The way he joined the opposition and the way he was elected to stand for presidency, that leaves a lot to be desired from a democratic perspective. The opposition was okay, it had its leaders and his coming to the opposition weakened some of the parties." PEOPLE AT RALLY
- Embargoed: 8th November 2015 12:00
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- Topics: General
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- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Tanzania's opposition party held its final rally in the capital on Saturday (October 24), ahead of Sunday's presidential election.
The ruling party faces its toughest election test in more than half of a century in power as it seeks to fend off a presidential bid by a former prime minister who has vowed to create jobs that will help the poor.
With two independent polls giving Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) the lead, the ruling party is still favoured to retain the presidency and keep a parliamentary majority, albeit probably smaller.
But campaigning has exposed public frustration with the pace of change in an East African nation endowed with gas and mineral deposits but lagging other regional economies.
Edward Lowassa, the 62-year-old former premier leading the opposition presidential bid, urged his supporters to come out in large numbers and vote for him as they try to bring change to the country.
"After everything I have said, I ask you with great humility to vote for tomorrow and make me president of the republic of Tanzania. With your support and I'm sure you have all the necessary tools let us finish the job tomorrow. We have a lot of support and we can finish this tomorrow," he said at a rally.
Early results are expected on Monday (October 26), with final figures due within three days of voting.
Tanzania has been one of Africa's most stable democracies, periodically changing presidents if not the ruling party, although violence has sometimes flared on the autonomous island of Zanzibar where Islamists and separatists have a strong voice.
Yet businesses and the public are increasingly angry at endemic corruption, regular power cuts and creaking transport.
Lowassa has his strongest support in cities. He has drawn thousands to rallies as the main opposition parties have united behind one candidate for the first time.
"Lowassa knows the problems of Tanzanians. He has been around this country and has been a leader for a long time, and his work can be seen. Plus he has a good development track record that we can be proud of. For me Lowassa is a people's person," said opposition supporter Emmanuel Paul.
"I'm voting for Lowassa because his policies are good for us and they give us hope since we are tired with the CCM (Chama Cha Mapinduzi) government. There will be free education that will help many poor Tanzanians to take children to school," said Joram Murawa, another supporter at the rally.
Works Minister John Magufuli, 55, of the CCM has also promised change and has even complained of inaction by parts of the government of CCM's outgoing President Jakaya Kikwete, who has served a maximum of two five-year terms.
But political analyst Bernard Bana said he thought there was little difference between both candidates.
"There are no significant differences. They are all preaching change, they are all preaching change, that is their driving force and they think that is what Tanzanians want to hear. They have been with CCM for a long time, they are tired of the party and some of us do think the party has outlived its usefulness. They are all for change. If you focus on Magufuli he is directed and even is his promises to the electorate, they are grounded on particular socio-economic realities, but Lowassa is very ambitious, sometimes he is making promises which we know he can not deliver those promises," he said.
"But the only thing that is weakening the coalition is the unprecedented coming of Lowassa after he was dropped in the CCM presidential race. The way he joined the opposition and the way he was elected to stand for presidency, that leaves a lot to be desired from a democratic perspective. The opposition was okay, it had its leaders and his coming to the opposition weakened some of the parties," he added.
CCM still has the upper hand in the election because it can rely on institutions of state to broadcast its message across country, experts say. The government insists it does not use state agencies for political ends. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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