Chief Justice Mohamed Chande Othman swears in Dr
John Pombe Joseph Magufuli (56) as Tanzania�s fifth-phase President at
grand ceremony held at historical Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam
yesterday.
Dr John Pombe Joseph Magufuli (56) took the oath of office as
Tanzania’s fifth-phase President yesterday, taking over from Jakaya
Mrisho Kikwete, after winning hotly contested polls on October 25.
He was sworn in at the historical Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam,
the colourful ceremony witnessed by both Tanzanians in their millions
alongside scores of leaders of several African nations and high-profile
representatives of other countries and international organisations.
Speaking moments after taking the oath, Tanzania’s newly installed
Head of State and Commander-in-Chief declared that any political
differences there may have been during the recent General Election
campaigns should now be considered a thing of the past.
Accordingly, he implored opposition parties to put love for
Tanzania and Tanzanians before anything else and join hands with his
ruling CCM and the government he is due to form soon “for the good of
our country and nation”.
He acknowledged that stiff competition from his political rivals
(the opposition camp) particularly during the presidential election
campaigns made him work harder, eventually winning the presidential
race.
“They were competitors alongside me. They challenged me into
working even harder, and I have emerged victorious,” said Dr Magufuli,
to deafening
applause from the multitudes at the stadium, as millions followed the proceedings from live television and radio broadcasts.
He promised to serve “all Tanzanians irrespective of tribe, race,
class, faith, region or political ideology” and urged all those defeated
in the hard-fought presidential, parliamentary and civic elections to
support his government.
In his first remarks as President, Dr Magufuli also said all
promises in CCM’s 2015 Election Manifesto, under which he conducted his
two-month countrywide election campaigns, would be implemented to the
letter under his guidance.
“The elections are over…I am the President of the United Republic
of Tanzania. Let’s bury our differences and work together,” he said.
Alluding to one of his popular election slogans – Hapa kazi tu
(literally meaning that, with him, it was business only and nothing
else) – he said he knew he was a national leader and was therefore duty
bound to serve even those who stood in his way during the election
campaigns.
The now-retired President Jakaya Kikwete arrived at the stadium on
board a special State House open car, waving from right to left to
applause across the stadium.
He received 21-gun salute, before inspecting his last guard of honour as Head of State.
Deafening cheers greeted him as he proceeded to the dais to witness
the swearing-in of Dr Magufuli and Vice President-elect Samia Hassan
Suluhu, both of whom took their oaths of office before Chief Justice
Mohamed Chande Othman.
The swearing-in procession was led by the CJ and witnessed by Chief
Secretary Ombeni Sefue and outgoing National Assembly Speaker Anne
Makinda. Others were Attorney General George Mcheche Massaju, Judges,
Defence and Security chiefs, religious leaders and senior citizens.
Dr Magufuli took the oath of office at 10.48 am and was presented
with a copy of the country’s Constitution, before sitting on a
traditional stool and being presented with a shield and spear.
The newly installed president then proceeded to the saluting dais
for a 21-gun salute, thereafter inspecting his first guard of honour as
President and Commander-in-Chief.
Former MP John Momose Cheyo, one of the few prominent opposition
camp members at the ceremony (after the boycott by the Coalition of
People’s Constitution popularly known as Ukawa), remarked when contacted
for comment: “It’s a wonderful ceremony with huge turnout, which shows
that the new president commands massive support from Tanzanians and
other people.”
He urged Tanzanians in their millions to continue upholding peace
and unity, and advised the Opposition camp to let election-time bygones
be bygones and instead cooperate with the new government.
Cheyo said there were many challenges ahead of the new president “by most Tanzanians believe that he will weather the storm”.
Winfrida Mfuka of Dar es Salaam appealed to President Magufuli “to
pick the right people to help him in implement the promises he made
during the countdown to the October 25 elections”.
Other national dignitaries at yesterday’s ceremony included
Zanzibar President Dr Ali Mohamed Shein and former Union presidents Ali
Hassan Mwinyi and Benjamin Mkapa.
Also at the event were Presidents Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Uhuru
Kenyatta (Kenya), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Edgar
Lungu (Zambia), Joseph Kabila (Democratic Republic of Congo), Philipe
Nyusi (Mozambique) and Jacob Zuma (South Africa).
Others foreign dignitaries present included Raila Odinga of Kenya,
Dangote Group president Alhaj Aliko Dangote, representatives of
international organisations, and members of the diplomatic corps.
Dr Magufuli garnered 8,882,935 votes (58.46 per cent) in the
October 25 election to 6,072,848 (39.97 per cent) for his closest rival,
Ukawa-endorsed former Prime Minister Edward Ngoyai Lowassa of Chadema.
Other contenders, Anna Elisha Mghwira of Alliance for Change and
Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo) got 98,763 votes (0.65 per cent), while
Chief Lutalosa Yemba of ADC collected 66,049 (0.43 percent), Hashim
Rungwe Spunda of Chauma 49,256 (0.32 per cent), Janken Malik Kasambala
of NRA 8,028 (0.05 per cent), Macmillan Lyimo Elifatio of TLP 8,198
(0.05 per cent), and Fahmi Nasoro Dovutwa of UPDP 7,785 (0.05 per cent).
According to National Electoral Commission Chairman Judge (retired)
Damian Lubuva, 15,589,639 out of 23.1 million registered voters
(equivalent of 67.3 per cent) actually cast votes.
From Uhuru Stadium, President Magufuli headed straight to the State
House, where he announced the re-appointment of George Mcheche Massaju
as Attorney General George Massaju. Sources said Massaju will be sworn
in today.
The president also announced that the next (11th) Parliament, whose
first activities will include the election of the National Assembly
Speaker, the swearing in of Members of Parliament and the endorsement of
the Prime Minister, will meet in Dodoma on November 17.
“This is the date that I (President Magufuli) will also give the
name of Prime Minister for endorsement by the National Assembly,” a
statement issued by Chief Secretary Ombeni Sefue yesterday said.
