Outgoing president Jakaya Kikwete (L) with newly elected president John Magufuli in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. PHOTO | AFP
Tanzania
Civil Society Consortium on Election Observation (TACCEO) has said that
presidential elections in Zanzibar were free and fair, insisting that
announcement of poll results should reflect the overall election
process.
“We urge the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) to reconsider its decision and continue with the tallying process and ultimately announce the winner in order to avoid violence,” said TACCEO Acting Chairperson Israel llunde when speaking to journalists on Friday in Dar es Salaam.
He cited some few irregularities in the electoral process as lack of civil education on elections and related information on voters.
He said it was necessary for the authorities to provide voter education during the registration process or during the pre-election period.
Ilunde alleged that there were cases of missing names in the voter register across the country, especially where TACCEO observers were present.
He said TACCEO recorded missing names of voters at Chakula Bora and Sinza C polling stations in Dar es Salaam, where about 200 voters failed to fulfill their constitutional right as their names were missing in the voter register.
He said a similar situation was observed in Mvula ward in Mvula village where 800 people were registered but only one name appeared in the voter register. He said the villagers were later on allowed to vote, but the turnout was not good as the people were demoralized and gave up.
ZEC nullified the Isles presidential results a day after Civic United Front (CUF) presidential candidate Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad declared himself a winner of the October 25 general election.
ZEC Chairman, Jecha Salaum Jecha, said that fresh polls would be called at a date to be announced later, citing massive irregularities and cheating.
This year’ general elections were the fifth since the restoration of multiparty politics in 1992. Voters elected the president, members of Parliament and councillors
“We urge the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) to reconsider its decision and continue with the tallying process and ultimately announce the winner in order to avoid violence,” said TACCEO Acting Chairperson Israel llunde when speaking to journalists on Friday in Dar es Salaam.
He cited some few irregularities in the electoral process as lack of civil education on elections and related information on voters.
He said it was necessary for the authorities to provide voter education during the registration process or during the pre-election period.
Ilunde alleged that there were cases of missing names in the voter register across the country, especially where TACCEO observers were present.
He said TACCEO recorded missing names of voters at Chakula Bora and Sinza C polling stations in Dar es Salaam, where about 200 voters failed to fulfill their constitutional right as their names were missing in the voter register.
He said a similar situation was observed in Mvula ward in Mvula village where 800 people were registered but only one name appeared in the voter register. He said the villagers were later on allowed to vote, but the turnout was not good as the people were demoralized and gave up.
ZEC nullified the Isles presidential results a day after Civic United Front (CUF) presidential candidate Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad declared himself a winner of the October 25 general election.
ZEC Chairman, Jecha Salaum Jecha, said that fresh polls would be called at a date to be announced later, citing massive irregularities and cheating.
This year’ general elections were the fifth since the restoration of multiparty politics in 1992. Voters elected the president, members of Parliament and councillors
SOURCE:
GUARDIAN ON SUNDAY
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