File photo of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Dr. John Magufuli
Dar Es Salam: Dr. John Magufuli, 61, of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), was re-elected as the fifth president of Tanzania, today. He swore in today for his second five-year term in office in a packed stadium in Dodoma after the National Electoral Commission (NEC) declared him winner of the October 28 general election. He garnered 12.5 million votes representing 84.4 per cent of the total votes cast. His main rival Tundu Lissu of the Chadema opposition party, who alleged results to be “illegitimate” and called for peaceful protests and action, could secure 13% votes.
Dr. Magufuli continues to serve as President since 2015 when he was first elected to the post.
Married with five children, Dr. Magufuli was born in north-western Tanzania’s Chato district along the shores of Lake Victoria. He is the son of a peasant farmer, he used to teach maths and chemistry teacher in school. He went on to become an industrial chemist and got a doctorate in chemistry from Dar es Salaam University in 2009.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Dr. Magufuli for being sworn-in as President of Tanzania. He tweeted: “My congratulations to H.E. John Pombe Magufuli for being sworn-in as President of Tanzania! I look forward to working with him to further strengthen the long-standing friendship between our countries.”
– globalbihari bureau
