Upcoming October elections

President Benjamin Mkapa will finish his final term as Tanzania's leader this year. The presidential elections are scheduled for October 30, 2005. As past elections have resulted in isolated incidences of violence, travelers to Tanzania are should check the websites of the US State Department and UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office for election updates. As past violence has occurred in Pemba and Zanzibar, travelers are encouraged to avoid these areas around the election date.