Voting begins in Tanzania presidential, parliamentary elections

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Sunday 25 Oct 2015 - 14:31 Makkah mean time-12-1-1437  Dodoma (IINA) - There has been a high turnout at polling stations across Tanzania as voters started casting votes in the presidential and parliamentary elections. The ruling party facing its toughest test yet from opposition rivals led by former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa, according to media reports. In the lead up to Sunday's polls, opposition leader Lowassa tapped into mounting anger over corruption and the slow pace of change in East Africa's second most populous country. With its 54-year rule, the Party of the Revolution (CCM) is the dominant party in Tanzania and the longest reigning ruling party in Africa.  However, CCM has faced growing pressure to speed up development of Tanzania's significant natural gas resources to spur economic growth and lower stubbornly high poverty rates, Al Jazeera reported.  Catherine Soi, reporting from Tanzania's commercial capital, Dar es Salam, said polling stations opened early to allow the stream of voters who want to cast their ballot before the major crowds turn out. "People have been coming since very early in the morning. They just want to vote early so they can go home and go about their business and wait for the result," Soi said. "Things are smooth and people are patiently waiting to cast their vote. They want free and fair elections." There are more than 63,000 polling stations in Tanzania, and each station is only allowed 450 voters. This is to quicken the process." Soi added. Many voters said education, healthcare and the economy were the major issues they based their choice on. "I have voted for Lowassa because I want change. He knows what he has promised us and we expect him to fulfil it. I want him to deal with education and health as he has promised," Asante Jumaine Kigawa, a voter in a suburb of Dar es Salam, said. "To be truthful, our education system is no good, and the health sector, especially for mothers and babies, is in a horrible state."  Other voters wanted the ruling party to continue its 54-year grip on power to fulfil its promises. "I am voting for John Magufuli because CCM has brought us a lot of developments and his promises are very strong and I pray to God to help him fulfil them," Atubella Josephat, 25, a first-time voter said. Outgoing President Jakaya Kikwete, who will step down after serving two terms, has warned against violence in the lead-up to the polls. "Anyone who tries to cause trouble will be dealt with," Kikwete said at a CCM rally on Saturday. HA/IINA