Kibaki attends Kikwete ceremony in Dar

President Kibaki was among regional and continental leaders who joined thousands of Tanzanians at a colourful swearing in ceremony of President Jakaya Kikwete for a second term in office Saturday.

In his address, President Jakaya Kikwete, emphasised that it was his government singular desire to perform and deliver to the Tanzanian people development pledges made during the campaigns period.

Noting that he was ready to take the nation to the next level of development, President Kikwete urged Tanzanians regardless of their political affiliation to join him in building a country that avails equal opportunities to all and where everyone was proud to call home.

President Kikwete also thanked the people of Tanzania for demonstrating unwavering trust on him and the country’s ruling Party Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and promised to serve the nation with diligence so as to tackle various challenges that facing them.

Among those who attended the ceremony at Uhuru Stadium in Dar-es-Salaam, which included a 21-gun salute and a military parade were: South African President Jacob Zuma, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, President Joseph Kabila of DRC, King Mswati III of Swaziland, Rupiah Banda of Zambia and Ugandan first deputy Prime Minister Eriya Kategaya – who is also the Minister for East Africa.

Later, President Mwai Kibaki joined other Heads of State and Government for a state luncheon hosted by their host President Jakaya Kikwete at Dar-Es-Salaam State House gardens.

President Kikwete's re-election was characterised by a low voter turnout and accusations of rigging by opposition candidates.

In results that were announced on Friday — five days after voters cast their ballots — CCM’s President Kikwete was declared the winner with 5,276,827 votes, representing 61.17 per cent of all votes cast.

Announcing the results at the Karimjee Hall grounds in Dar es Salaam, the chairman of the National Electoral Commission, Mr Justice Lewis Makame, said that Chadema’s Dr Willibrod Slaa emerged second with 2,271,941 votes, representing 26.34 per cent of the total votes.

President Kibaki is accompanied by the Minister for Internal Security and Provincial Administration, who is also the acting Foreign Affairs Minister Prof. George Saitoti, East African Community Minister Prof. Hellen Sambili, Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Muthaura and  acting Foreign affairs Permanent Secretary Patrick Wamoto among other senior government officials.