Tanzania’s ruling CCM party candidate John Pombe Magufuli is set to take over as the next president from the outgoing Jakaya Kikwete after winning the just concluded presidential elections.
Magufuli garnered 58% of the cast votes, beating his main rival Edward Lowassa, who managed 40% of the votes.
The elections were billed as the fiercest that the governing party has faced in its 54-year stay in power.
Magufuli’s win was a perfect birthday gift for him as he had just celebrated his 56th birthday.
In Magufuli, Tanzanians have a very educated president who has accrued vast educational qualification.
He holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Dar-es-Salaam, having earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the same institution. He has at least seven publications to his name.
He joined the ruling CCM party in 1977, slowly growing through the ranks to become a Member of Parliament in 1995 till 2010.
Before his election as the CCM flag bearer, he’d been the Minister for Works and MP for Chato constituency.
Magufuli is known to many as a man who is aggressive for results, honest and full of integrity.
