Kikwete had won a landslide victory in the 2005 presidential election receiving 80.2 percent of the popular vote.

[1] His inaugural cabinet had seven women ministers, the highest in the nation's history.

Edward Lowassa was then nominated as Prime Minister and was approved overwhelmingly by the National Assembly.

He was sworn in on 30 December 2005; the same day President Kikwete inaugurated the 9th Parliament.

[5] The energy crisis at the time may have necessitated the President's decision.