Lushoto, Ulanga East to hold by-elections today

ANNE ROB

RESIDENTS of Lushoto and Ulanga East constituencies are today expected to elect their Members of Parliament (MPs) in by-elections to be held in the areas. National Electoral Commission (NEC), Acting Director of Elections, Mr Emmanuel Kawishe, told a news conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday that alongside the byelections, six wards in various regions will also hold elections for local 

These wards are Muleba in Kagera Region, Uyole (Mbeya), Bukene (Shinyanga), Msingi (Singida), Bomang’ombe (Hai District, Kilimanjaro) and Kasulu in Kigoma Region. Mr Kawishe said polling stations will be opened at 7am and closed at 4pm, stressing the need for the voters to adhere to rules and principles of elections.

“Every voter should carry with him or her voters’ identity card,” he noted, pointing out that form No. 17 as not an option for voters with no cards, but a form that approves the name of the holder’s card in the permanent voters registration form.

The polls in the areas (Lushoto, Ulanga East and the six wards) were postponed in the just-ended general election following the deaths of the contestants. Mr Kawishe said that voters should also vote and leave the polling station, saying there would be no one who will be allowed to meander around after voting.

He also cautioned voters and other people against influencing disruption of peace and harmony in the areas during the voting exercise, assuring the public of free and fair elections. He stressed the need for the ‘wananchi’ in the areas to come out in large number and vote to elect their leaders.

“I would like to call upon the ‘wananchi’ to come out and vote in their registration centres to choose their leaders,” he said, reiterating the need for the people in the areas not to fear but come out and choose their leaders that they want.

According to Mr Kawishe, people with disabilities, pregnant, women with babies and the elderly would be given priority to vote.On the other hand, NEC said all political parties should ensure they deploy agents in all the polling stations as required.

“All the political parties taking part in the planned election should ensure their agents are deployed in all polling stations. The agents are required to adhere to the rules and principles of the elections,” he stressed.

On the other hand, Mr Kawishe reminded that persons stipulated in the election law are the only ones who would be allowed to tally the votes and the results will be announced by NEC.

Meanwhile, other elections are scheduled to be conducted on 13th of December in Arusha-Urban and Handeni constituencies while on the 20th of the same month, there will be a by-election at Ludewa in Njombe Region and Masasi Constituency in Mtwara.