JOINT CALL FOR INDEPENDENT ELECTORAL BODY IN TANZANIA

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