Tanzania's electoral body 'sets date for elections'

Tanzania's electoral commission has set 28 October as the date for general elections, the Citizen newspaper reports.

The commission's chairman Justice Semistocles Kaijage has told a media briefing that election campaigns will start on 26 August and end a day before the election.

Presidential and parliamentary candidates will submit their names to the commission on 25 August, he said.

President John Magufuli, 60, will seek re-election for a five-year term.

The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party has been in power since 1964 when mainland Tanganyika merged with Zanzibar to form the United Republic of Tanzania.