congrats, Dr Magufuli; we now must move on

After a long drawn out political contest, Dr John Magufuli of CCM was yesterday declared the President-elect and will in due course be sworn in as Tanzania’s fifth president to succeed Jakaya Kikwete.

We congratulate Dr Magufuli for the win and wish him well in his new and daunting role as the topmost leader of the close to 50 million Tanzanians.

The 2015 General Election was indeed unlike any other since the re-introduction of multi-party politics in 1992. The huge voter turn-out (close to 70 per cent of those registered) is testimony that the citizens of this country are keen on taking charge of their own destiny.

Dr Magufuli’s mandate from 8,882,935 million voters as per results released by the National Electoral Commission was emphatic. The losing opposition candidate, Mr Edward Lowassa, even though disputing the results, should take pride in the fact close to 7 million Tanzanians shared his vision and would be mindful of the fact that in any political race, there can only be one victor.

As a country, nothing has been lost and no one should feel alienated as polls are a process to put people in office to work for the general good of the entire nation. Democracy, after all, demands that the majority have their way and the losers, their voice.

The victors should therefore celebrate with magnanimity and respect the right of those on the other side to have their say as we seek to grow our democracy and its institutions. Any dispute arising from the electoral process should be resolved in the most civil manner and by lawful means.

Many lessons

There are bound to be many lessons learnt over the entire electioneering period that would serve us better if legal, administrative or political shortcomings would be addressed adequately to enable the country to forge a better, effective, and more transparent elections in future.

For the losers, there isn’t the end of the world as concluding one election is the beginning of the journey to the next. For those coming into office, they should be reminded that a bigger challenge lies ahead.

Winners will need the support of all to deliver for the good of the country. It is gratifying that the number of opposition MPs will now be higher than ever before. That is testimony to the fact that democracy is surely taking root.

But we also know that the country has in its hands a crisis in Zanzibar following the cancellation of the October 25 General Election. Like their Mainland compatriots, Zanzibaris held a peaceful election and expect that the dispute doesn’t crush their collective will to elect leaders of their choice.

As the parties in the dispute look into means of how to end the crisis, our prayer is that wisdom will prevail. Zanzibar should come out safe and stronger from the danger that the momentous development presents.

It is encouraging that the two political sides are appealing to their supporters to keep the peace and go about their businesses as usual. We also appreciate the push by members of the international community for peace and quick resumption to normalcy.

It is our hope that no effort will be spared in making sure the matter is resolved the earliest to allow the United Republic of Tanzania to move on as one.