Voters in Peramiho Constituency and Shiwinga Ward will head to the polls tomorrow to elect a Member of Parliament and a councillor, respectively, as election authorities say all logistical and administrative preparations have been completed.
A total of 127,632 voters registered in the Permanent Voters’ Register are expected to take part in the by-elections in Peramiho Constituency, located in Songea District Council in Ruvuma Region, and Shiwinga Ward in Mbozi District Council in Songwe Region.
Speaking to the media today, February 25, 2026, in Songea, the chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Jacobs Mwambegele, said voting will be conducted at 373 polling stations.
He said 120,780 voters are registered in Peramiho Constituency, while 6,852 voters are registered in Shiwinga Ward. Of the total polling stations, 354 are located in Peramiho and 19 in Shiwinga.
Judge Mwambegele said political competition is expected to be intense, with 15 political parties fielding candidates in the Peramiho parliamentary by-election, while eight parties are contesting the Shiwinga ward councillorship.
He urged all participating parties to deploy agents at polling, counting and tallying centres, noting that election supervisors in both areas have finalised all procedures to ensure transparency and compliance with electoral laws.
“Party agents play a critical role in safeguarding the interests of their parties and candidates, and they are required to observe all laws, regulations and directives issued by the Commission,” he said.
The INEC chairperson said polling stations will open at 7:00am and close at 4:00pm. However, voters who will be in queues at the official closing time will still be allowed to vote, with a security officer standing behind the last voter to mark the end of the line.
He added that voters will be required to leave polling station premises immediately after voting and follow all instructions issued by polling officials to maintain order.
Judge Mwambegele further clarified that voters whose details appear in the Permanent Voters’ Register at their respective polling stations but who have lost or damaged their voter cards will be allowed to vote upon presenting a National Identification card, a driving licence or a valid passport.