By
Adonis Byemelwa
Prime
Minister Kassim Majaliwa has issued a stern warning to 157 civil society
organizations (CSOs) authorized by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) to provide voter education. Majaliwa cautioned these
organizations against engaging in activities outside the guidelines and
agreements established with the government.
Speaking
today, Saturday, July 20, 2024, at Kawawa Stadium in Kigoma Ujiji Municipality,
Kigoma region, during the launch of the permanent voter register update,
Majaliwa emphasized that despite having permits, these organizations must
adhere to other national laws while carrying out their duties.
"You
can’t just do whatever you want and say, 'I have a permit, here it is...I have
the right.' No! You must understand that this country has laws, and while
conducting this exercise, alongside its specific law, other national laws must
be followed.
So,
adhere to those conditions," he asserted. Majaliwa stressed the importance
of sticking strictly to the guidelines provided and not straying into
unauthorized activities. "It is essential to avoid issues that are not
included in the guidelines or permits you have been given. We want this
exercise to be completed as intended."
Majaliwa
stated that even when these organizations wish to educate citizens in meeting
rooms or public gatherings, they should focus solely on election-related topics
and avoid introducing unacceptable content. In addition to INEC permitting
these organizations to provide education, 33 domestic and eight international
organizations have also been authorized to observe the voter registration and
updating process.
In
another directive, Majaliwa instructed the prison service and training
institutions in Zanzibar to establish enabling infrastructure to facilitate
INEC's duties efficiently when registering and updating the information of
inmates serving sentences of less than six months.
"The Immigration Service must educate the
public about identifying and reporting the presence of non-citizens. They are
also responsible for regularly visiting these registration centers to ensure
that no foreign nationals are registering in the voter register.
By doing so, you can effectively collaborate
with citizens in identifying those who do not qualify for Tanzanian
citizenship," Majaliwa stated.
As
well, Majaliwa directed the Police Force to avoid excessive use of force while
maintaining security and safety in all areas where registration will take
place. He urged INEC to act responsibly and swiftly remove any officials found
violating the ethical standards of this task, citing that some individuals
refuse to follow procedures.
"Some officials have reached a point
where they believe no one else matters, and they start engaging in unacceptable
behaviors," he explained.
Majaliwa
also encouraged opposition parties to mobilize citizens to update their
information and register in the voter register. He reminded them that they have
the legal right to place their agents at each registration center under Section
27(1) of the Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Government Elections Act
No. 1 of 2024. He urged political party leaders to ensure these agents are
locals who understand the eligibility criteria for registration and voting.
Earlier,
INEC Chairman Judge Jacobs Mwambegele, in his briefing to Majaliwa, stated that
the commission is mandated to update the voter register twice between one
general election and the nomination day of the next general election.
"The
last time the commission updated the register was in 2019/20, so this launch
marks the first phase of updating the permanent voter register, starting today,
July 20, 2024, and ending in March 2025, allowing for a second phase," he
said.
Judge
Mwambegele explained that the update would occur in 13 rounds, the first
starting today and covering the regions of Kigoma, Tabora, and Katavi. Each
round will last seven days, with registration centers open from 8:00 AM to 6:00
PM.
In Zanzibar, the exercise will take place from
October 7 to 13, 2024, in compliance with Section 13 (1)(2) of the
Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Government Elections Act No. 1 of 2024.
The update allows anyone in Zanzibar who does not qualify to register with the
Zanzibar Electoral Commission but is eligible to vote for the President of the
United Republic of Tanzania to register.
He
noted that a total of 40,126 centers would be used for the register update,
with 39,709 in mainland Tanzania and 417 in Zanzibar, marking an increase of
2,312 centers.
According to the 2022 Population and Housing
Census, over 5.5 million new voters who have reached the age of 18 or will do
so by the 2025 general election are expected to register.
He assured that all necessary preparations,
including the purchase of 6,000 electronic registration devices (BvR Kits)
using the Android operating system, have been completed.
Prime
Minister Majaliwa's directives and the detailed plans laid out by INEC aim to
ensure a smooth and lawful voter registration process, enhancing the integrity
of the electoral system in Tanzania.