Hassan received an impressive 98 percent of the votes, dominating nearly all 32 million ballots cast in the poll conducted on Wednesday.
“I hereby declare Samia Suluhu Hassan as the winner of the presidential election representing the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party,” announced Jacobs Mwambegele, the electoral chief of the nation, on Saturday morning.
International observers expressed concerns regarding the lack of transparency in the electoral process and the widespread chaos that reportedly resulted in over 500 fatalities and numerous injuries. Several opposition leaders faced disqualification from participating in the election.
Chadema, the largest opposition party in the country, boycotted the election following the imprisonment of its leader, Tundu Lissu, before the polls.
Lissu is currently facing treason charges after advocating for electoral reforms. Luhaga Mpina, the presidential candidate from the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo), the second-largest opposition party, was also disqualified by the electoral authority. This marks Hassan's first presidential election. The 65-year-old assumed leadership of the East African nation in 2021 following the death of former President John Magufuli, under whom she served as vice-president.
Initially, she received praise for her warmer, more approachable leadership style, which contrasted sharply with Magufuli’s authoritarian approach to dissent and his controversial management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Subsequently, Hassan initiated reforms that facilitated the reopening of Tanzania to foreign investors, restored relations with international donors, and improved ties with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. However, critics have accused Hassan's administration of engaging in unexplained abductions of opposition figures.