John Magufuli is sworn in for another term

President John Magufuli was sworn in on Thursday morning for his second term at the helm of the country after his very wide-ranging but contested re-election on October 28 with more than 84% of the vote. A grand ceremony was organized in a stadium in Dodoma, the capital, in the presence of foreign guests and the composite bodies.

Tanzanians were entitled to more than three hours of high mass in a Jamhuri Stadium furnished and decorated for the occasion. A dozen foreign delegations were present from the African Union, SADC. His Ugandan counterparts Yoweri Museveni, the Zimbabwean Emmerson Mnangagwa and Comorian, Azali Assoumani and the Burundian Prime Minister Alain-Guillaume Bunyoni as well.

John Magufuli was sworn in on the Constitution of the Representatives of the Religions and the High Court. The same goes for its vice president, the first in the country’s history, Samia Hassan Suluhu. He was introduced to the traditional symbols of power, a spear and a shield and promised to serve the citizens of Tanzania “diligently without fear, hatred or favor”.

“The election is over. The great task that awaits us now is to continue to rebuild our country and develop it. I also promise to work tirelessly, regardless of our political differences, to achieve what we promised during the campaign. In addition, we will work to get our country out of dependence on foreign countries “, declared the re-elected president.

Opponents released

However, the “bulldozer”, as it is nicknamed, begins this second period after a controversial election. His opponents have called for continued protests, and some are already accusing him of wanting to remove the limit on the number of terms at the head of state to run for re-election, which John Magufuli ruled out this weekend.

But opponents were never able to mobilize due to the strong security rollout in the country. Several leaders have been arrested after launching allegations of fraud, including Tundu Lissu, failed presidential candidate. They were all released on Monday and Tuesday.

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