Tanzania's incumbent President John Pombe Magufuli of the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), re-elected for a second term, has been sworn in on November 5, 2020. He will lead the country for the second and final term, as provided by the Tanzanian Constitution. Dr John Pombe Magufuli is AfroAmerica Network Black Man of Year 2015 (see AfroAmerica: John Pombe Magufuli, AfroAmerica Network Black Man of Year 2015)
The swearing-in ceremony was held in the Tanzania capital city of Dodoma and attended by thousands of Tanzanians and other guests filling Dodoma National Stadium.
Nicknamed the "Bulldozer", Dr John Pombe Magufuli was first elected to lead Tanzania in 2015, becoming the country's fifth President.
He is praised by many around Tanzania and Africa for his economic policies including big-impact infrastructure projects and a wide reaching anti-corruption campaign.
Ceremony Attended by Dignataries, African Leaders, and Ambassadors
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by various dignitaries and African leaders, including Botswana Vice President Slumber Tsogwane, Mozambique Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosário, the Prime Minister of Burundi Alain Bunyoni, two former presidents of Tanzania, Ali Hassan Mwinyi and Jakaya Kikwete, and ambassadors based in Tanzania.
John Magufuri The Bulldozer, Ready for the Second and Final Term
The swearing-in ceremony was held while the opposition was calling for a fresh election, the disbandment of the electoral commission and an “endless peaceful demonstration” to reject the election results.
In his speech, President Jon Pombe Magufuli, said that "Elections are now over" and called for national unity and promised to work for all Tanzanians.
Before the swearing-in ceremony, President John Magufuli reinforced his commitment of never seeking another term, addressing the concerns of his ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi, that also dominate the parliament, may seek to change the constitution to remove the term limit provisions for the President.
Those raising the concerns appeared to refer to what some African dictators have done, citing the example of Paul Biya in Cameroon, Dennis Sassou Nguesso in the Republic of Congo, Alassane Ouattara in the Ivory Coast, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, and Paul Kagame of Rwanda.
@AfroAmerica Network 2020
