Our Correspondent, Dar
es Salaam TANZANIA
Sections
of Tanzanian are calling for dialogue and the establishment of an independent
electoral body to make elections free and fair.
They
gave their views amid growing frustration among main opposition parties that
have decided to boycott local government elections slated for November 24 this
year.
The
parties have accused the government of deliberately blocking their candidate
from contesting in the grassroots elections in favour of the ruling party CCM.
Tanzania's main opposition party Chama cha
Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) had last week said it would boycott
the ongoing civic electoral process citing unbearable controversy and
irregularities that disqualified 90% of their contesters countrywide and
favoured the ruling party (CCM).
Other opposition parties that followed the boycott
trend are the Alliance for Change
and Transparency (ACT-Wazalendo), National
Convention for Construction and Reform (NCCR-Mageuzi), Civic United Front (CUF), Chama
cha Kijamii (CCK), The United People's Democratic Party (UPDP), National League for Democracy (NLD) and The Chama Cha
Ukombozi wa Umma (CHAUMA).
The
decision came on the heels of reports of massive locking out of opposition
contesters across the country in favour of the ruling party whereby the election Returning Officers have
disqualified thousands of opposition candidates over reasons their parties says
are flimsy and orchestrated.
Bishop Benson Bagonza of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, Karagwe Diocese. |
Religious
leaders, analysts and politicians who spoke in separate interviews yesterday
said there was no more trust in the electoral process and recommended
alternative ways to address the situation.
“I
think there a need for an independent body to oversee the election since the
ministry and the returning officers are nolonger trusted by the opposition. This
body will also take charge of next year’s general election,” said Bishop Benson
Bagonza of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, Karagwe Diocese.
Others
say the conflicting parties may opt to sit together and explore options that
facilitate the election with harmony.
“I
see two options, having negotiations or exploring legal procedures. In
circumstances such as this, they can go to court,” said the Tanzania Muslim
Council’s (BAKWATA) Central Council Chairman Hamis Mataka.
The
Chairman of Constitution Forum, Deus Kibamba, calls for quick negotiations and
added that a committee should be formed to advise the minister responsible for
overseeing the election.
“Time
is running out and Tanzanians are eagerly waiting to see what will happen. They
would like to see independent electoral body supervising all elections in
Tanzania instead of leaving this work to the ministry which has no enough
expertise to handle it,” he said.
He
said the controversies over the civic polls should not be left hanging without
immediate solutions as the matter can create negative image over Tanzania
elections.
Tanzanian
authorities said last Saturday that the nation's civic polls planned for
November will go ahead despite boycotts announced by some opposition parties.
"The
civic polls will be conducted on November 24 as planned despite boycotts
announced by some opposition parties," Mwita Waitara, the Deputy Minister
in the President's Office responsible for Regional Administration and Local
Government told a news conference in Dodoma. - Africa
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