NEC picks three Special Seats MPs

ROSE ATHUMANI

THE CHAIRMAN of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Judge Damian Lubuva, explains a point at a news conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday regarding the newly-filled Special Seats MPs and the just-ended Kijitoupele election. Right is the Director of Legal Services, Mr Emmanuel Kavishe. (Photo by Mohamed Mambo)

THE National Electoral Commission (NEC) has named the remaining three Special Seats members of parliament (MPs) to complete the list of 113.

The three Special Seats MPs are Rita Enespher Kabati and Oliver Deniel Semuguruka of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and Lucy Fidelis Owenya of Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema).

Addressing journalists yesterday, NEC Chairman Judge Damian Lubuva said the Special Seats were left out waiting for the legislative elections in the eight constituencies that did not conduct election in the 2015 general election due to various reasons, including deaths of candidates.

The eight constituencies are Arusha, Lushoto, Ulanga East, Masasi, Handeni, Ludewa, Luhindi and Kijitoupele in Zanzibar. Judge Lubuva said in November, last year, NEC set aside a total number of 113 parliamentary special seats for women in the General Election, 2015.

He added that because eight constituencies had not yet conducted the parliamentary elections, only 110 seats out of the 113 special seats were allocated, leaving out the three seats that were to be allocated after the election of the remaining constituencies. At the time CCM was allocated 64 seats, CHADEMA 36 and CUF 10 seats.

Judge Lubuva noted that CCM in 256 constituencies received 8,332,953 votes while in the remaining eight constituencies the party received 162,535.

Chadema got 4,627,923 votes in 256 constituencies while in the eight constituencies it garnered 92,958 votes. CUF got 1,257,051 votes in the 256 constituencies and 17,860 votes in the eight constituencies that recently conducted parliamentary elections.

According to Justice Lubuva, calculations conducted show that CCM has 66 special seats, Chadema 37 and CUF 10.

He said in the list of names of Special Seats MPs submitted to NEC, Ms Kabati and Ms Semuguruka are in position 65 and 66 respectively while Ms Owenyi is number 37 according to Chadema’s list.