NEC pushes back date for by-elections in four wards

 

By Alex Bitekeye 

In Summary

 The election in four Wards of Kimandolu, Themi, Kaloleni and Elerai in Arusha was postponed on June 16 due to a bomb blast at Kaloleni grounds during the closure of the opposition’s Chadema by-election campaigns. Four people were killed and several others injured in the explosion.

Dar es Salaam. Following the ongoing tension in Arusha, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) has decided to push back by-elections for councillorship seats in four wards of the city.

NEC had earlier announced that the by-election would go on as scheduled and was set for Sunday this week.

However, briefing journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the Nec chairman, Justice (rtd) Damian Lubuva, said the ongoing tension in Arusha has compelled the electoral body to push back the date for the by-election.

“We need time for the situation to return to normalise. We have decided that the by-elections would be held on July 14 instead of June 30, this year,” said Justice Lubuva.

According to the Nec chairman, the decision was reached at a meeting held yesterday morning.

The election in four Wards of Kimandolu, Themi, Kaloleni and Elerai in Arusha was postponed on June 16 due to a bomb blast at Kaloleni grounds during the closure of the opposition’s Chadema by-election campaigns. Four people were killed and several others injured in the explosion.

“There will be no campaigns as we had already closed the curtain for that,” said Judge Lubuva.

He appealed to political parties to sensitise their members who are eligible voters to turn out in big numbers to vote.

However, he said the postponement of the by-election has nothing to do with the planned US President’s visit to the country on Monday.

“Arusha residents are still on tension and we think that they need more time before they go to polls,” said Justice Lubuva.