Dodoma: Tanzania’s incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party has won the presidential election, securing 97.66 percent of the vote, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced.

According to Namibia Press Agency, INEC Chairperson Jacobs Mwambegele declared, “I declare Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) the winner of the presidential elections, who got 31,913,866 votes, equivalent to 97.66 percent of the vote cast,” in the capital, Dodoma.

Hassan becomes the country’s first elected female president. She previously served as vice president from 2015 to 2021 and initially assumed the presidency in March 2021 following the death of then-President John Magufuli from heart disease, marking a historic milestone as Tanzania’s first female head of state.

Tanzanians participated in the general elections on Wednesday, held every five years, where they voted for the president, members of parliament, and local council representatives. In this election, 17 parties fielded presidential candidates, with 18 contesting parliamentary and local seats.

Hassan defeated 16 opposition candidates, securing a decisive victory that extends her party’s long-standing dominance in Tanzania’s political landscape.

The election faced challenges, particularly in the port city of Dar es Salaam, where protests erupted. Demonstrators accused authorities of stifling the opposition after key candidates were barred from the presidential race.

According to reports, clashes occurred between protesters and police, who opened fire to disperse the crowds. Several police posts, gas stations, commuter buses, and polling stations were reportedly damaged in the unrest.

The government responded by imposing a curfew in Dar es Salaam, and there were later reports of internet disruptions.