John Magufuli was sworn as Tanzania’s new President. Magufuli’s win in the October 25 poll with over 58 percent of votes.
The new president is 56 years old and spent 15 years in the government’s Cabinet, mostly as minister of works, whose job is to oversee construction projects.
Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan, was also sworn in at a function at capital Dar es Salaam. With this Tanzania also gets first female vice-president.
Magufuli is Tanzania’s fifth president since the country won independence from Britain in 1961.
Elections were largely peaceful, but the opposition said the vote was rigged and also claimed victory, while semi-autonomous Zanzibar — which also voted for its own president — annulled polls over irregularities.
During the campaign, he pledged to reduce unemployment and poverty in Tanzania and improve infrastructure. Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in Africa, where according to the World Bank, nearly half the population lives on less than $2 per day.
Unlike many African countries, Tanzania has a history of peaceful transfers of power. President Jakaya Kikwete stepped down this year after completing two terms in office.
Tanzania is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It is bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north; Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west.
Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. Tanzania’s population of 47.4 million (2014) is diverse, composed of several ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups.
Tanzania is a presidential constitutional republic, and since 1996, its official capital has been Dodoma, where the President’s Office, the National Assembly, and some government ministries are located.
Dar es Salaam, the former capital, retains most government offices and is the country’s largest city, principal port, and leading commercial centre.