LOWASSA

A new opinion poll has put the Coalition of Defenders of the People’s Constitution (Ukawa) presidential candidate Edward Lowassa in the lead over his main rival from the ruling party, Dr John Magufuli, in the ongoing election race.
A survey released yesterday by Tanzania Development Initiatives Program (TADIP), which was accomplished on Wednesday following a three-week fact-finding task, gave Lowassa 54.5 per cent of the vote over Dr Magufuli, who would garner 40 per cent if the election was to be held this month.
The pollster also found that only 2 per cent of the voters would vote for the presidential candidate of the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo) Anna Mghwira, while Hashim Rungwe of Chama cha Umma (CHAUMA) would secure only 0.4 per cent, followed by Chief Yemba of the Alliance for Democratic Change (ADC), with 0.1 per cent.
Speaking to reporters, Director of TADIP, George Rwezahura, said 2,040 respondents of varying ages, gender and walks of life from 10 regions in Tanzania Mainland responded to an open-ended questionnaire that required them to mention a president they would vote for were the election to be held this month.
The findings reveal that at least 97 per cent of the respondents would participate in the October 25 general election, while 3 per cent said they would not take part, though they were short on disclosing the reasons.
The poll has revealed that Lowassa has conquered the hearts and minds of the people in Kilimanjaro by 73 per cent, Tanga 70 per cent, Arusha, 67 per cent and Dar es Salaam regions with only 55 per cent, while Dr Magufuli is likely to win in Dodoma and Morogoro regions with 53 per cent and 63 per cent, respectively.
In other regions there was a stiff competition between the two candidates with Lowassa garnering 52 per cent against 42 per cent of Magufuli in Mwanza whereas in Mbeya, Lowassa secured 47 per cent against Magufuli’s 40 per cent, while Lowassa won 50 per cent over his opponent’s 42 per cent.
Other regions including Geita, Lowassa also led the race with 53 per cent of the votes against 40 per cent of Magufuli, who won over Lowassa who gained only 44 per cent and 26 per cent in Dodoma and Morogoro respectively.
The findings have also revealed Lowassa to be a favorite of the youth aged between 18 and 47 while Magufuli is accepted mostly by the elderly population.
Lowassa has also won the confidence of male folk given the poll results of 60 per cent support from them as opposed to 40 per cent of Magufuli, who, in line with Mghira has won the support of female voters.
TADIP also depicted victory for Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) parliamentary contenders of 40 per cent against Chadema with 30 per cent, while 20 per cents said they would for Ukawa parliamentary candidates.
ACT-Wazalendo won 3 per cent of the parliamentary seats, the Civic United Front (CUF),sector they would like to see the elected president giving priority in his dealings, followed by health sector, water, agriculture, unemployment, natural resources, industries and corruption.
TADIP is non-governmental organization that deals with, among others, research, policies and legal analysis established in 2006. This is the second opinion poll to be conducted by the organisation this year.