The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has underscored the importance of professionalism and efficiency among officials involved in the upcoming update of the Permanent Voter Register (PVR) in prisons and correctional institutions across the country.
Addressing participants in Dodoma during the closing session of a three-day training for voter registration officers from Mainland Tanzania’s prisons, INEC Commissioner Ambassador Omar Ramadhan Mapuri called on the officials to fully internalize the knowledge and guidelines provided during the training.
“The training and instructions you have received are critical tools for the effective execution of your duties. You are expected to study the manuals carefully and apply them diligently to ensure accuracy and integrity in this important national exercise,” said Ambassador Mapuri.
The training was part of INEC’s nationwide preparations for a special voter registration exercise that targets remandees, inmates, and correctional students serving sentences of less than six months.
In Zanzibar, the training concluded with a similar call for diligence and responsibility. INEC Commissioner and High Court Judge Asina Omari urged officials working in correctional training institutions to handle voter registration equipment with the utmost care, citing the high costs involved in procuring the devices.
“These tools are national assets, procured at significant expense. Mishandling or carelessness in their use could result in severe setbacks for the voter registration process,” said Judge Asina, adding that the quality of service delivery must reflect the importance of the exercise.
She also reminded the officials to strictly adhere to the official opening and closing times of the registration centers and to maintain respectful communication with those they serve.
According to INEC’s schedule, the voter registration exercise will be conducted from June 28 to July 4, 2025.
It will cover all prisons in Mainland Tanzania and training institutions in Zanzibar, focusing on eligible Tanzanians who are legally permitted to vote specifically remandees, inmates, and correctional trainees sentenced to less than six months.
The initiative forms part of INEC’s wider commitment to ensuring inclusivity in the democratic process by extending voter registration to all eligible citizens, including those in confinement, in accordance with Tanzania’s electoral laws.
By taking the process into prisons and reform institutions, the commission aims to uphold the constitutional rights of all citizens and reinforce confidence in the transparency and reach of the country’s electoral system.
