TANGAZO
10th June 2015
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The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has postponed the registration of voters through the Biometric Voters Registration (BVR) for a week in four regions citing lack of resources wrought by administrative changes.
Addressing the media yesterday in Dar es Salaam, NEC acting election director Dr Sisti Cariah said the affected regions are Arusha, Manyara, Kilimanjaro and Mara.
According to him, the registration in the said regions was supposed to commence on June 9 this year but instead it will start on June 16.
He explained that the postponement was due to administrative changes in wards, villages, and streets as will be identified by Regional Administration and Local Government.
“The adjournment of the process in the four regions follows the ongoing changes of administrative boundaries across the country,” he noted.
He pointed out that there are about 130 wards that have been increased countrywide.
Nonetheless, he said registration is progressing well with five regions complete, these are, Njombe, Lindi, Mtwara, Ruvuma and Iringa.
He explained that the commission expected to register 518,230 in Lindi but 529,224 showed up, that is 10, 000 more than the expected amount.
Also, only 783,296 were expected to up for registration in Ruvuma but 826,779 people came and while only 524,390 were expected in Iringa, 526,006 came for registration.
“The number shows that we went beyond our expectations...this is a good indicator which shows that the exercise is going well,” said the acting election director of NEC.
Dr Kariah assured the public that the registration will be completed in all regions sometime in July as scheduled.
He said on June 16 they will move to Tanga and Morogoro and for Dar es Salaam and Coast regions, registration will start on July 2.
He said NEC has identified about 152 people who registered twice and they will be taken to court.
“Our automatic finger printing system allowed us to know those people who have double registrations,” he said and warned the public that the act is against the law.
In Arusha, The Guardian’s Lusekelo Philemon reports that NEC suspended the Biometric voters Registration (BVR) yesterday to June 15 citing regions to be affected to include Arusha and Manyara.
Addressing a press conference here, BVR coordinator in Arusha, Richard Kwikega, said the suspension was caused by lack of working facilities including ink and papers.
“We are waiting for those facilities which are yet to arrive here...it wouldn’t be wise to start the exercise on June 9 as planned when we don’t have enough facilities,” the official said.
Responding, Arusha Urban MP, Godbless Lema (Chadema), heaped his blame on NEC chairman, retired Justice Damian Lubuva, for his failure to fulfill his promises.
“As Chadema we are wondering why NEC is trying to play with democracy and what I am seeing is sabotage to opposition parties,” the MP said.
“We won’t accept this to continue...I urge NEC chairman to be careful with this important exercise,” the outspoken MP said.
“The information which I have is that the suspension of the exercise was caused by an increase of six new more wards of Moshono, Olasiti, Terrat, Sombetini and Elerai,” he said.
In contrast, on Monday, Arusha City Council Director, Juma Idd confirmed that everything was ready for the BVR to kick-start as well as ensuring that all facilities arrived in Arusha.
Meanwhile Correspondent Crispin Gerald reports that, the European Union has called upon the National Electoral Commission to ensure transparency in the ongoing registration of voters through Biometric Voter Registration.
The EU said transparency is vital to clear doubts which have emerged over the process and reminded NEC to observe the recommendations given by election observers in the 2010 general election.
Briefing journalists yesterday in Dar es Salaam of the European Year for Development 2015 scheduled for June 14th this year, the EU Ambassador to Tanzania and EAC Filiberto Sebregondi said that the registration through BVR is very crucial and it will help the Commission to keep voters records in electronic systems.
“Lack of transparency in the registration process will cause complaints by people who will not be registered and thus be denied their right to vote,” Sebregondi said.
He said civic education is crucial as the country heads towards the general election citing that disbursing of civic education is necessary for any country which observes the principles of good governance to make citizens aware of what is going on in the country.
“The government of Tanzania is supposed to create conducive environment for the media to allow it to provide more education to citizenry on the BVR,” he added.
“Through the media, the citizenry will be able to identify the most qualified candidate for the presidential post and thus allow them to make an informed decision,” he said.
According to the ambassador, the EU election observers who monitored the 2010 general election recommended the formation of an independent electoral commission.
“Despite the fact that both recommendations by observers reflect the same demands of majority Tanzanians nothing has been done to improve the situation,” the ambassador said.
He called upon Tanzanians to safeguard the prevailing peace and avoid acts which may result into breach of peace.
He cited Tanzania’s longstanding partnership with the EU and it is recognition for its well functioning democracy.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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