Tanzania President, John Magufuli, addressing residents of Isaka village in Shinyanga region yesterday |
By Staff Reporter, Shinyanga TANZANIA
The President of Tanzania, John Magufuli, has applauded Tanzanians for
participating in the just ended local elections that saw his ruling party scoring landslide victories in almost all of more
than 330,000 local leadership positions.
The
country’s opposition parties boycotted the 24 November elections citing
irregularities carried out by election officials who overwhelmingly excluded
opposition candidates by nullifying their applications.
More than half of opposition candidates were
told they could not stand because of spelling mistakes, blank spaces on forms
and other bureaucratic errors.
“I
thank those who participated in the elections and those who boycotted, because
to boycott elections is also democracy.” He said adding that to win an election
is democracy like losing.
Addressing
residents of Isaka in Kahama district yesterday, Magufuli congratulated his
party Chama Cha Mapinduzi for winning the elections urging unity for prosperity.
“Elections are over, our party has sailed through, now let us unite for
development. “ He said.
The
elections’ credibility and fairness have been questioned by the United States
and British challenging the unfair election process that excluded almost all
opposition parties.
In
a statement issued yesterday by the US embassy in Tanzania showed deep concern
of the US over reports of irregularities in the process.
“This
troubling development calls into question the credibility of the election
process and results.” Read the statement adding that the government of Tanzania's refusal to provide observation accreditation in a timely manner to credible, experienced organisations in addition, eroded confidence in the process.
On
its part, the British High Commissioner to Tanzania, Sarah Cooke, said that coordinated
disqualification of opposition candidates and their decision to boycott
elections have all denied all Tanzanians the opportunity to decide their local
leaders in a free, fair and transparent manner.
File: British High Commissioner to Tanzania, Sarah Cooke (L) talk to Tanzania President, John Magufuli at State House Dar es Salaam |
“We
are deeply concerned about the handling of the civic elections; the lack of accreditation
for credible domestic observation, coordinated disqualification of opposition
candidates and their decision to boycott elections have all denied all Tanzanians
the opportunity to decide their local leaders in a free, fair and transparent
manner.” Insisted the High Commissioner.
Chama cha Demokrasia
na Maendeleo (Chadema), the main opposition party, said earlier this month it
would not be taking part in the elections because of alleged government
manipulations, including the mass disqualification of its candidates. Several
other smaller parties also joined the boycott.
"Our party
believes it is wiser not to support such electoral cheating," Chadema
Chairperson, Freeman Mbowe said in November. "To continue to participate
in elections of this kind is to legitimise illegality."
He said it was now the
time for a free and independent electoral commission to be established to steer
the democratic process away from partisan interests that jeopardise the
wellbeing of nationhood.
Local observers worry that this new development sets a bad precedent ahead of general elections next year. - Africa
Local observers worry that this new development sets a bad precedent ahead of general elections next year. - Africa
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