Ruling Party Addresses Tanzania Election Fears

Tanzania's ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party's top leadership has met with envoys from several countries, assuring them of fairness and legality of the elections set for October 28. CCM Secretary-General Bashiru Ally met with diplomats from Kenya, Mozambique and seven countries in the EU, a meeting where economic relations was also discussed. Despite a pledge on fairness, opposition ACT-Wazalendo has faulted the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC), for the five-day campaign suspension slapped on the party's presidential candidate, Seif Sharif Hamad, saying it shows that the ZEC is not independent. The party claimed that the decision was made after analysis showed Hamad's popularity and acceptance had increased ahead of the elections. Meanwhile, Tundu Lissu, the frontrunner from the opposition's Chadema party has had his campaign suspended for seven days on October 23, by the National Electoral Commission.