(Reuters) – The election in Tanzania’s semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar has been annulled due to abuses, the regional election commission said on Wednesday, forcing a fresh vote in the area that has long been a hotspot of opposition to the ruling party.
“I hereby officially announce that this election and all its results have been annulled and there is a need to hold fresh elections,” Zanzibar Election Commission Chairman Jecha Salim Jecha said in a statement citing “gross violations”.
An official from the opposition Civic United Front branded the move a ploy to rerun a vote it had won. There was no immediate comment from the ruling CCM party, but CCM officials had previously said it was on track to win on the island.
