JUSTICE and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, has hailed local election observers, saying their reports will help the country to strengthen democracy.
CEMOT, which comprises Tanzania Election Monitoring Committee (TEMCO) and Tanzania Civil Society Consortium on Election Observation (TACCEO), released its report in Dar es Salaam which found out that last year’s general election was generally peaceful and transparent.
According to Dr Mwakyembe, the government would go through the report and its recommendations in order to see how best the country can conduct its next general election in 2020.
“We in the government consider election observers as an important tool in enhancing the integrity of our election, but we need more local observers who will work with the government closely,’’ he said.
The minister further advised observers to observe objectivity in the course of discharging their duties and shun working as activists. Dr Mwakyembe, however, commended the CEMOT report, which he said, was comprehensive asking local observers to be more proactive than being reactive.
“In many cases observers have been appearing just a few days before elections. But I think it is better we start working together so as we advise each other on how best we can improve our future elections and democracy,’’ he added.
CEMOT Co-Chairperson, Ms Martina Kabisama, asked the government to put measures in place that would help to fast track issuance of accreditation to election observers in order to avoid unnecessary disturbances in the coming elections.
She further underscored the need to create awareness to various groups including government officials on the importance of election observers in strengthening democracy.
“Some of our observers encountered several challenges because some societies and people were viewing them as activists or members of certain political parties,’’ noted Ms Kabisama.
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