Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi has secured a second term in office after winning 74.8 percent of the vote in Wednesday’s presidential election, the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced on Thursday night.
ZEC Chairperson George Joseph Kazi confirmed that Mwinyi, the candidate of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, defeated 10 opposition contenders in a poll that recorded an impressive 88 percent voter turnout across the semi-autonomous islands.
In his victory speech, broadcast live from Zanzibar City, Mwinyi called for unity and reconciliation, urging his rivals to work together for the common good.
“Let us forget the past and open a new chapter of rebuilding the archipelago,” he said.
Mwinyi, who was first elected in 2020, will serve another five-year term as head of the Zanzibar Revolutionary Government.
Accompanied by First Lady Mariam Mwinyi, he expressed gratitude to voters for their trust and pledged to strengthen good governance, promote economic growth, and advance social welfare.
Looking ahead, the president outlined plans to boost Zanzibar’s business climate and cut red tape for investors.
He said his government will prioritize entrepreneurship as a key engine of growth and job creation, focusing particularly on youth and women.
