Is Tanzania Electoral Commision delaying appeals of 557 candidates?

By Our Correspondent, DAR ES SALAAM Tanzania

The Tanzania National Electoral Commission (NEC) has endorsed appeals for only 15 opposition parties’ parliamentary candidates out of 100 that were barred from stating campaigns following massive objection over candidacy qualification from the ruling party candidates.

Director of Elections, Wilson Charles

In a press statement presented by the Director of Elections, Wilson Charles, Tuesday September 9 the commission have decided only 55 appeals out of 557; endorsing 15 parliamentary candidates who were initially barred from running after successful appeals.

He said that other 15 disqualified aspirants who sought to be put on the ballot paper were rejected, adding that NEC had rejected other 25 objections that sought disqualification of endorsed candidates.

Initially, NEC said that it had received 557 objection appeals countrywide, most of which were filed by ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi against rival opposition parties in Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar.

The statement did not disclose names of successful appellants and those who’s filed appeals rejected nor why the exercise is taking that long as campaigns started on August 28.

Charles said that his institution will continue to release more results of the filed appeals by disqualified candidates and objections raised after nominations and endorsement by NEC.

“NEC has carefully reviewed documents and statements of appellants as well as responses from those whose nominations were objected to ensure that justice is done in accordance with electoral laws and regulations,” Charles.

After the announcement of list of candidates endorsed by NEC last month with one hundred candidates from opposition parties disqualified, opposition parties have had no avenue to rectify the situation than to appeal for democratic good sense from NEC and other state authorities, or appealing for support from the diplomatic community.

During the launch of its campaign rally in Dar es Salaam last month, the main opposition party CHADEMA appealed for support from Western countries, saying there were sinister motives in the massive disqualification of its candidates.

The party’s Presidential candidate, Tundu Lissu, said the international community should press the government and even individuals who took part in the disqualification of its candidates.

Lissu said the party had 3,754 councillorship candidates in the 3,955 wards all over the country, of which a total of 1,020 have been disqualified without valid reasons.

 “In the history of multiparty politics in this country since 1995, opposition aspirants have never been systematically disqualified as it is the case this year,” the former MP and opposition legal affairs spokesman added. 

Following ‘mass disqualification’ of opposition parties’ candidates, ACT – Wazalendo Presidential candidate for Zanzibar, Seif Shariff Hamad, said last month that their supporters cannot agree to sit back while their democratic rights are being taken away by force.

“Enough is enough, be prepared for mass action.” He said of party members being barred from the race adding that struggle needs perseverance; it needs commitment and determination.