Photo: Katy Gabel/AlllAfrica

A giant billboard of Obama along Nairobi Road, Kisumu.

TANZANIAN politicians, academics, analysts and the public have roundly welcomed re-election of US President Barack Obama, saying the country can learn a lot from the just ended polls in America.

National Assembly Chairman Mussa Azan Zungu told the 'Daily News' at the Bunge grounds in Dodoma that Mr Obama's pro-poor policies made him win the election. "President Obama pushed for government-funded healthcare schemes to poor Americans and more tax for rich, the policies that Governor Romney and his supporters were against," he said.

The US Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Alfonso Lenhardt, said President Obama's victory was a testimony of free, fair, transparent and peaceful election in the US. "Other countries can learn from the US," the ambassador told journalists he had invited at the Election Day Breakfast reception in Dar es Salaam, after Mr Obama's re-election.

University of Dar es Salaam don, Dr Benson Bana, commended the US electoral machinery for timely release of the results and Mr Mitty Romney's decision to concede defeat immediately. "Tanzania has a lot to learn from the US electoral system, where candidates accept people's choice," he said.

The Kigamboni MP, Dr Faustine Ndungulile (CCM) noted that Tanzania should learn to conduct election campaigns that focus on manifestos of the parties. "The US campaigns were dominated by the economy, jobs, power and national security agenda. This is how it should be even here," he said.

Dr Ndungulile noted that the way in which Mr Romney conceded defeat and congratulated his rival demonstrated political maturity.

Ms Magdalena Sakaya (Special Seats-CUF) noted that Tanzania should learn to conduct peaceful polls.

"From the word go to the end of the race, we did not heard any act of injustice against voters and the government did not use force against any one," she said. The elections the Chairman of the Committee of Six which formed the government of national unity in Zanzibar, Mr Ali Mzee Ali, commended President Obama for his victory.

He said that one thing that politicians should learn of the US election is for them to concede defeat. Mr Masoud Salim, a youth leader said that he was impressed by the way Mr Obama embarked on his election campaign.