Tanzania’s newly-elected president John Pombe Magufuli took the oath of office yesterday at an event that was witnessed by several heads of state, including Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame.

The swearing in ceremony was held in the Tanzanian commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

Other presidents who attended include Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni, the chairman of African Union (AU) and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, and Joseph Kabila of DR Congo.

President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi was the only East African Community (EAC) leader who missed the event that was held at Uhuru Stadium.

Magufuli won the race with 8.8 million votes, beating his closest rival, Edward Lowassa, with a margin of 2.8 million votes, on October 25, and cemented the long-running Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party’s firm grip on power.

Magufuli, a 56-year old former chemistry teacher, ran on an anti-corruption platform.

In his oath, Magufuli said he will execute his duties diligently, without discrimination whatsoever, and in accordance with the laws of and traditions of Tanzania.

He said Tanzanians should be ready for real change and a working nation.

While making his victory speech outside Chama Cha Mapinduzi’s (CCM) Dar es Salaam office last week, Dr Magufuli said laziness and poor service delivery – especially in the public service sector, must come to an end.