Malawian Vice President Saulos Chilima will travel to Dar-Es-Salaam to attend President-elect John Pombe Magufuli’s inauguration on Wednesday in the Tanzanian capital.
[caption id="attachment_97209" align="alignright" width="450"] President-elect John Pombe Magufuli[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_91522" align="alignright" width="366"]
Chilima: To attend Tanzania President-elect John Pombe Magufuli swearing in cereomony[/caption]
Magufuli, a former chemistry teacher who celebrated his 56th birthday on Thursday as results were announced, ran on an anti-corruption platform, and secured a convincing victory over his closest rival, ex-prime minister Edward Lowassa, who won 40 per cent.
Chilima is also expected to deliver to the new Tanzanian leader a message from President Peter Mutharika of Angola.
“The Vice President has been delegated by His Excellency President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika the swearing in ceremony at Uhuru Stadium in Dar-Es-Salaam on Thursday 5th November, 2015,” said press officer for the vice president, Pilirani Phiri in a media statement.
A large number of African and Western leaders are expected to attend the ceremony.
Phiri said Chilima will return same Thursday soon after the inauguration.
National Electoral Commission announced that Magufuli had won Sunday’s presidential elections with over 58 per cent of votes, cementing the long-running Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party’s decades-long grip on power.
His running mate Samia Suluhu Hassan, from the semi-autonomous Zanzibar archipelago, becomes Tanzania’s first ever female vice-president.
CCM or Revolutionary Party has been ruling Tanzania since 1961.
But the opposition claimed the vote was rigged and also claimed victory.
Magufuli succeeds outgoing Jakaya Kikwete who has served for two terms.
Kikwete, who said he would go to his home village of Msogo, dismissed a question as to whether he would miss the trappings of office.
“Why should I be sad? You see I’m so happy, I played my part,” AFP report quotes Kikwete, who said Magufuli was the “right person” for the job.
“I was given the opportunity, and for 10 years I worked to the best of my ability to build our nation,” he added.
“Time has now come for me to leave the country peacefully to the next leader.”
Kikwete’s standing down comes amid a wider controversy in Africa over efforts by leaders to change constitutions in a bid to stay in office.
Tanzania has a smooth transition. It was also peaceful when succeeded Benjamin Mkapa.