Ruling party’s John Magufuli takes early lead in Tanzania poll

John Pombe Magufuli

Dar Es Salaam: Tanzania's ruling party, Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM)'s presidential candidate John Pombe Magufuli has taken an early lead in the country's general election, amid protests from the opposition that there are plans to intimidate its supporters.

Results released by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) showed Magufuli leading with 150,000 votes against his main rival Edward Lowassa who had 82,826 even as election observers raised concern over the slow pace of release of results.