BVR scandal: Who will save the nation?

A registration clerk takes a voter’s fingerprints during the trial biometric voter registration in Kawe Constituency, Dar es Salaam. PHOTO | FILE 

By Katare Mbashiru,The Citizen Reporter

In Summary

• The electoral body has so far bought 250 kits out of the 8,000 it ordered last year. It expected an additional 2,100 kits two weeks ago, but to date, not a single extra kit has arrived from the supplier

Dodoma. The last time opposition lawmakers took the controversial biometric voter registration (BVR) saga to Parliament seeking the government’s position on what was actually happening, they were silenced with sweet political statements.

 After the political statements from the Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda, the Opposition sat back  hoping for a successful BVR programme that would enable the registration of 23 million voters by April 30. This was the date scheduled for the referendum vote. Now the BVR project, marred by scandals since day one—during the tendering process—is stuck due to lack of funds needed to buy the required 8,000 kits.

There is only one month left and the National Electoral Commission (NEC) has been rather slow, managing to register below 500,000 in a month in Njombe District.

NEC has so far bought 250 kits out of the 8,000 it ordered last year. The NEC expected an additional 2,100 kits two weeks ago, but to date, not a single extra kit has arrived from the supplier.

Perhaps, what puzzles many is the revelation, published by The Citizen last year, that Tanzania was given a fully funded deal by the Canadian government through government-to-government agreement, which would have financed the procurement of 12,000 BVR kits. Tanzania turned down the deal.

As the time ticks too fast ahead of the much-touted referendum, voter registration has stalled.

But, neither the government, nor NEC has  admitted openly that with the remaining time, only a miracle would make it possible to register the estimated 23 million voters in 25 Mainland Tanzania regions.

NEC chairman Judge (rtd) Damian Lubuva has, however, repeatedly insisted there is no cause for alarm. Every eligible voter will be registered, he says.

But, to experts who know how the BVR system works, NEC chairman’s optimism is a bluff, because to register 23 million voters with only 250 kits, the body would require 1,533 days or 49 months. That is four years!

Now, alarmed Opposition MPs yesterday petitioned Parliament to hold an emergency session to debate what they said was a voter registration crisis that could plunge the country into serious trouble.

Ubungo MP, John Mnyika (Chadema) moved to seek support from MPs yesterday so that the controversy surrounding the BVR can be scrutinised.

The legislator sought the Speaker’s guidance insisting that the exercise was marred by controversies and would likely fail if emergency measures aren’t taken. He said in Njombe Region, a number of people failed to register because there were no BVRs. Mr Mnyika said the government managed to order the purchase of only 800 kits by a company that was given a tender for the supply of BVRs, although it promised to purchase 2,100 kits.