20101106
africanews

Tanzania's incumbent President Jakaya Kikwete has been re-elected to office following last weekend's elections, officials say. The election commission said Kikwete won just over 61% of the votes, beating candidates from opposition parties. The commission dismissed claims of irregularities in the count.

Kikwete has been credited with boosting the nation's economy, but his opponents say he has failed to tackle widespread poverty.

Tanzania boasts east Africa's second-biggest economy, although more than 50% of Tanzanians still live below the poverty line, according to the IMF.

The main opposition leader, Willibrod Slaa, had called for a vote recount, but the commission said there were not enough irregularities to change the final result.

The president, who is 60, will serve a second and final term.