Dar es Salaam — It
has emerged that the Kenya Human Rights Commission in collaboration with
civil society organizations (CSOs) from Tanzania, East and Southern
Africa region will monitor Tanzania's October general election mostly
virtually.
The team monitoring
the elections includes prominent judges from Kenya and Uganda who have
formed the Tanzanian Election Watch panel. It is an alternative
independent oversight body comprising the leading pan-Africanists, human
rights defenders and media professionals.
According to a
report by a Kenyan newspaper, The Standard, the team members named
include former Kenya's Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and Uganda's
Constitutional Review Commission chairman Prof Fredrick Ssempebwa.
Others are, Dr
Miria Matembe, Prof Chaloka Beyani, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, David Makali,
Dan Wandera Ogalo, Uganda's High Court Judge Lady Justice Lydia
Mugambe, Prof Frederick Jjuuko, Betty Murungi, Alice Mugwe and Zein
Abubakar.
However, until
yesterday, Tanzania National Electoral Commission's (NEC) director of
Elections Wilson Charles said though several international observers
have been invited to oversee this year's polls, his office wasn't sure
whether the formed panel was among the accredited institutions.
"I'm attending a
meeting; therefore it is difficult to remember if they are among those
approved. I will be in a position to comment after I have read details
on the panel," he told The Citizen over the phone. By press time, the
director hadn't confirmed the details of the panel to The Citizen.
The electoral body's website had no name or country of international observers allowed to oversee this year's General Election.
But launching the
panel last Thursday, Prof Ssempebwa said the team has no interest to
take sides in the polls, but he called for respect to human rights,
freedom of speech, movement and assembly.
Prof Ssempebwa who
chairs the panel said economic integration makes the Tanzania polls an
issue of major interest and critical for anchoring peace, tranquillity
and justice in the region. The panel will monitor election organization
and preparations through field polls monitors without necessarily
travelling to the country due to what it referred to as "political
difficulties".
In June this year,
NEC announced names of 245 CSOs that will provide voter education as
well as 97 others approved to serve as local election observers.
The choice ignited
huge debate among politicians and political commentators especially
following exclusion of key, resourceful and experienced CSOs including
the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition, the Legal and Human
Rights Centre and the Tanzania Constitution Forum.
Separately, leaders
of the CSOs told The Citizen claiming that they were excluded due to
authorities' fear of their capacity to objectively and independently
monitor election processes in the country and beyond. However, NEC
responded to the criticism saying they only picked those organizations
that met the set criteria.
Human rights groups have accused Tanzania authorities for narrowing freedoms and repressing political dissidents.
They include stifling independent journalists and severely restricting activities of NGOs, accusations denied by the government.
But, a Tanzania
journalist living outside the country Ansbert Ngurumo was of the view
that there was no hope for fair and free elections this year.
"For the first time in history, there will be no international election observers in Tanzania," said.
This will be the 6th general election since the introduction of multiparty politics in Tanzania in 1992.
Regional pundits
argue that the October 28, polls would likely be a two-horse race
involving political foes, incumbent John Magufuli and Chadema's Tundu
Lissu.
Both Magufuli and
Lissu have expressed optimism of emerging victorious in an election that
comes at a very critical time when the world and the region is fighting
the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tanzania operates
in a democracy that has seen Presidents come and go, with Dr Magufuli
promising to organize free, fair and credible elections.
On October 28, this
year, Tanzanians from all walks of life will elect the United Republic
president, the Zanzibar president, members of the House of
Representatives and local officials for both the mainland Tanzania and
the semi-autonomous Isles of Zanzibar.
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