Voting starts in tight Tanzania general elections

Supporters of opposition presidential candidate and former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa, who heads the four main opposition parties, attend their closing campaign rally in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015. Tanzanians vote Sunday in landmark elections that could end the dominance of the ruling party, which has held power for decades but faces a united opposition buoyed by growing discontent over official corruption. AP

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — Voting has started in Tanzania’s general elections in which the ruling party faces a strong challenge from a united opposition.

In the presidential race, the ruling party’s candidate, John Magufuli, is battling former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa, who defected to the opposition earlier this year after being rejected as the ruling party’s candidate.

Voters Sunday are also choosing lawmakers in the country’s parliament and local officials.

The electoral commission says it hopes to announce the winning candidate within three to four days.

Damian Lubuva, the commission’s head, said Saturday that a total of 23,254,485 voters are registered to vote across the East African country.

The semi-autonomous island archipelago of Zanzibar is also voting for a president and local leaders.