Tanzanian election leaves a highly polarised society with an uncertain future
KARUTI KANYINGA, Research Professor, Institute for Development Studies (IDS), University of Nairobi WHEN Tanzanian voters went to the polls on October 28, the incumbent President John Pombe Magufuli and his party Chama Cha Mapinduzi showed all the signs of being confident about victory. This confidence resulted from the way in which Magufuli has governed Tanzania since he assumed office in October 2015. His style has been one of intolerance, populism and a no-nonsense ‘bulldozer’ attitude. He pursued this approach in the run up to the elections too, effectively fencing off the opposition. By the day of the poll, the opposition,…
