Ban welcomes 'peaceful and orderly' elections in Tanzania

John Magufuli, the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (Revolutionary Party) candidate, won with 58 percent of the votes cast. Costantine Magavilla is an independent analyst joins CNBC Africa.

At the same time, the UN Chief said that he was concerned about the situation in Zanzibar and underscores that any disputes related to the electoral process should be addressed through the existing legal framework in a peaceful and transparent manner.

Magufuli is scheduled to be sworn-in as Tanzania's fifth president on November 5.

Tanzania's outgoing President Jakaya Kikwete says he is happy that he will hand over power to John Magufuli who was on Thursday declared victor of the keenly contested presidential elections. He made the announcement in Tanzania's commercial capital, Dar es Salaam.

"I was given the opportunity, and for 10 years I worked to the best of my ability to build our nation", he added.

But Tanzania's vote was not without troubles.

Lowassa, 62, a former prime minister who defected from the ruling party in July, rejected the electoral commission's declaration, saying the opposition's own count based on its representatives at polling stations showed he won.

"Democracy, peace and unity in Zanzibar are at stake", said a statement by global election observers on Thursday, including teams from the African Union, headed by former Mozambican president Armando Guebuza, the Commonwealth, headed by former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, and the European Union.

The opposition has said the vote was rigged and has also claimed victory, while the semi-autonomous Zanzibar archipelago's decision to annul polls has also caused concern.

Jecha Salum Jecha, the chairman of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission, said the elections were nullified because of a breach of electoral laws and regulations.

Seif Sharif Hamad from the opposition CUF, had declared himself the victor before the results were officially announced.

According to the AFP Mr. Hamad threatened to call for protests if the annulment of the election is not reversed by Monday.