The Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) has declared Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi the winner of the presidential election in the semi-autonomous island archipelago, securing him a second term in office.
Dr. Mwinyi, the incumbent and candidate of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, retained power with a decisive victory. The CCM, which has governed both mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar since independence, extended its unbroken record of electoral success.
The vote was held on Wednesday, concurrently with Tanzania’s general elections, under an internet shutdown that disrupted communication across the country. Reports also emerged of unrest and security crackdowns in some regions during and after voting.
Election observers and opposition leaders have called for calm as official tallies continue to come in from other parts of the country.
Dr. Mwinyi’s re-election consolidates CCM’s political dominance in the Indian Ocean archipelago, where the party has long maintained control despite periodic tensions and opposition challenges.
