As the incumbent president, he is expected to increase his majority from the 61.8 percent he obtained at Tanzania's first multi-party elections in 1995 although constitutionally he now only needs to beat his nearest opponent and not score 50 percent plus one vote as he had to do in 1995. Over five years Mkapa has transformed Tanzania from one of the world's poorest nations to Africa success story in the eyes of international donors.
Conspicuous poverty remains evident.
But inflation had been cut from 32 percent to less than 6 percent, growth is put at five percent and tourism and mining are booming. Zanzibar's Salmin Amour had privately indicated that he might run for a third and unconstitutional term as the island's president. Mkapa skillfully blocked this plan. Even among his detractors, Mkapa's conspicuous integrity and such achievements are acknowledged. The main question, or so it seemed, was who would come second to Mkapa and CCM as Tanzania's quietly queued to vote on Sunday 29 October 2000.