NEC’s Director of Elections, Kailima Ramadhani. Photo: Courtesy
By Adonis Byemelwa
Electoral stakeholders from Mwanza and Shinyanga are converging today 9th August 2024, to meet with the National Electoral Commission (NEC), focusing on the crucial enhancement of the Permanent Voters Register in their regions. This high-stakes gathering is set to shape the future of voter registration, ensuring that every eligible citizen is accounted for ahead of upcoming elections.
This meeting, part of the third phase
of the register's improvement, aims to ensure all participants are
well-prepared for the upcoming voter registration exercise. NEC’s Director of
Elections, Kailima Ramadhani, stressed the importance of these sessions in
sharing crucial information and introducing stakeholders to the registration
equipment and systems.
"The primary goal of these
engagements is to inform stakeholders about the ongoing process, familiarize
them with the registration equipment, and ensure they understand how the
exercise will be conducted at various registration centers.
We will also discuss preparations,
including the verification of registration centers, trial improvements, equipment
procurement, and stakeholder involvement, which will be critical as we begin
operations in Mwanza and Shinyanga," said Ramadhani.
The meetings will bring together
political party leaders, religious leaders, representatives from civil society
organizations, editors, journalists, regional and district information
officers, and various community representatives, including youth, people with
disabilities, women, and traditional elders.
The Director of Elections will present
on multiple aspects of the Permanent Voters Register enhancement, such as the
registration process, voter eligibility, expected voter turnout, and training
for those involved in the enhancement process. ICT experts will guide
participants through the registration system and the equipment that will be
used.
The NEC has already initiated the
enhancement of the Permanent Voters Register, launching the process in Kigoma
on July 20, 2024, with Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa officiating. This launch
marked the start of the first phase across Kigoma, Tabora, and Katavi regions.
The second phase is currently underway in Kagera and Geita, running from August
5 to 11, 2024.
In a shocking turn of events, the
Tanzanian government has initiated what could be the largest mass eviction of
citizens in the nation's history, relocating residents of Ngorongoro a
staggering 547 kilometers away from their ancestral lands.
This unprecedented move, driven by
directives from top authorities, has seen the National Electoral Commission
(NEC) strip these residents of their voting rights by moving them away from
polling centers they've relied on for years, effectively disenfranchising them.
Amid growing outrage, Chadema Vice
Chairman Tundu Lissu has issued a powerful call to action, urging the newly
installed Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) leadership under Boniface Mwabukusi to
intervene.
Lissu, known for his fierce advocacy, has demanded that the TLS address the issue with the full force of the law, insisting that this gross violation of citizens' rights be challenged through every legal avenue available.
As the controversy deepens, all eyes
are on TLS to see whether it will rise to the occasion and defend the rights of
those displaced, setting a critical precedent in the fight for justice in
Tanzania.
This drastic action has sparked
widespread criticism, with a teacher from Embarway Secondary School in
Ngorongoro expressing frustration. Speaking anonymously, the teacher lamented
the disruption of basic services like hospitals, shops, and markets, which have
been halted.
"It feels like the government is
deliberately discouraging the residents, forcing them to leave the district.
But we have no plans to leave. We have lived harmoniously with wildlife here
for generations. It seems this government, under President Samia, values
animals more than people," the teacher remarked.
Even the Ngorongoro Conservation
Authority offices have been relocated near Karatu, about four kilometers away,
to minimize human-wildlife interactions. The teacher speculated that even
Embarway School might be moved, given that it isn't as costly as the abandoned
Ngorongoro Authority buildings.
Ngorongoro MP Emmanuel Ole Shangai
(CCM) has raised serious concerns in Parliament, questioning how the relocation
can be considered voluntary when essential services are being withheld.
Speaking in Dodoma on April 8, 2024, during the budget discussion for the Prime
Minister's Office, he highlighted the plight of Ngorongoro residents.
Since 2022, they have been under a
lockdown that has stunted development. He cited 27 primary schools in the area,
none of which are allowed to build or even repair toilets, forcing students and
teachers to relieve themselves in the bush. Additionally, students at Enduleni
Primary School, which has boarding facilities, are now forced to fetch water
from the river due to the suspension of water services.
Shangai’s bold stance may come at a
cost, as the ruling party CCM traditionally does not tolerate public criticism
of the government by its members. Rumors are already circulating that he might
be sidelined in the party primaries for the 2025 elections.
As the relocation continues, it is
imperative to ensure that the process is conducted smoothly, with displaced
residents receiving adequate compensation and resettlement with dignity.
Renowned economist and retired professor Anna Tibaijuka has strongly criticized
the government's approach, arguing that Tanzania's conservation reserves
already occupy 28% of the country's land. Expanding these areas at the expense
of human settlement, she says, is a short-sighted move that overlooks the need
for industrialization and land development. "Prioritizing animals over
people is absurd," said Prof.
Tibaijuka, who served as the Minister
of Land and Human Settlement under President Jakaya Kikwete. She also warned
that some of the confidential agreements between the government and private
investors contain clauses that infringe on human rights, urging a closer
examination of such bonds.
Chadema vice chairman Tundu Lissu was
quoted as saying, that the situation in Ngorongoro is a stark reminder that
development must be balanced with respect for the rights of the people who have
lived on this land for generations. Moving forward, a more humane approach is
essential—one that values human dignity promotes equitable development, and
ensures transparency in policies that impact the lives of Tanzania’s most
vulnerable citizens.
“The future isn’t about picking sides
between conservation and human rights; it’s about striking a balance that
serves all Tanzanians. We must protect our natural heritage without trampling
on the rights of those who’ve called these lands home for generations,” says
Sinyati Mollel, a resident of Ngorongoro.
A just approach prioritizes both people and
nature, ensuring that progress respects the dignity and livelihoods of every
citizen. It’s time for Tanzania to lead with a vision that embraces both
sustainable development and human rights, proving that one does not have to
come at the expense of the other.