NEC now ordered to halve BVR kits

Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) Justice Damian Lubuva 

By Katare Mbashiru, The Citizen Reporter

In Summary

Impeccable sources confided to this paper that the government wants the order for biometric voter registration kits (BVRs) almost halved due to funding constraints.

Dar es Salaam. The National Electoral Commission (NEC) plan for voter registration ahead of the 2015 General Election could be thrown into disarray due to huge budget cuts, The Citizen can report.

Impeccable sources confided to this paper that the government wants the order for biometric voter registration kits (BVRs) almost halved due to funding constraints.

NEC contracted LithoTech Exports of South Africa to deliver 15,500 BVRs for electronic registration of 23.9 million eligible voters in time for 2015 elections.

The initial cost for the BVR contract was put at $117 million (Sh196.5 billion) but following reports questioning some irregularities in the tender, NEC later said the agreed fee was $89 million (about Sh142.4 billion).

Emerging reports say the electoral body has now been directed to cut down the order for the BVRs from 15,500 to 8000 as the government moved to plug in the huge budget hole left donors who have withheld $558 million (about Sh950 billion) in financial support over corruption concerns.

The donors have said they will only release the funds factored in the 2014/15 Budget upon seeing—and being satisfied with—the outcome of the investigations into the controversial payments of Sh201 billion of Independent Power Tanzania Ltd (IPTL) escrow monies to Pan Africa Power Solutions Tanzania Ltd (PAP).

So far, the government has released Sh21.5 billion out of the approved budget of Sh133 billion for NEC operations.

The money was released in September, according to permanent secretary in the ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Mr Servacius Likwelile.

“Further cash release will depend on work plan until April next year when the exercise comes to a close,’’ the PS said.

The delay in the release of the funds saw NEC push back the registration kick-off date from September this year to December. According to NEC, the 15,500 BVR kits would be required to conduct and end the registration by May 2015.

According to our sources, NEC officials fought a move at last week’s meeting to have cut down the order to 4000 BVRs as suggested by the office of the Prime Minister.

“At the end of the meeting it was agreed that funds would only be released t