Dar es Salaam, Muharram 12, 1437, Oct 25, 2015, SPA -- Tanzanians voted Sunday in tightly contested presidential and parliamentary elections, with a chance that the ruling party could be ousted for the first time since independence in 1961, dpa reported. Thousands stood patiently in queues from early morning to cast their ballots. Half of the east African country's 50 million population is eligible to vote. Polls closed at 1300 GMT and results are expected within 72 hours. Former prime minister Edward Lowassa, 62, is the figurehead for Ukawa, a four-party opposition coalition challenging the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM, from the words "party of the revolution" in Swahili), which has been in power for 54 years since independence. -- SPA 22:03 LOCAL TIME 19:03 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w