DAR ES SALAAM, Nov 10 (NNN-XINHUA) – At least 539,953 people have submitted electoral forms, seeking to be nominated as candidates, for leadership positions in Tanzania’s Nov 24 civic polls, a cabinet minister said.
Selemani Jafo, the Minister of State in the President’s Office, responsible for Regional Administration and Local Government, said, the 539,953 people were out of 550,036 people who had collected the forms seeking nomination for candidacy.
“The number of people who have submitted their forms amounts to 97.29 percent,” Jafo told a news conference, in the capital, Dodoma, adding that, 10,083 people who had collected the forms were yet to submit them, for reasons best known to themselves.
He said, relevant authorities will on Sunday (today), announce the number of people who have been endorsed to contest leadership positions in the polls.
Commenting on four political parties that have withdrawn from the civic polls, citing nomination irregularities, Jafo said, their withdrawal was part of the democratic process.
“They are not forced to do something that they feel they should not do,” said the official.
By Saturday, four political parties of Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), ACT-Wazalendo, Chama Cha Kijamii (CCK) and Chama Cha Ukombozi wa Umma (CHAUMA) announced withdrawal from the polls, all citing nomination irregularities.
Mwita Waitara, Deputy Minister in the President’s Office, responsible for Regional Administration and Local Government, told a news conference that the polls will go ahead despite boycotts announced by some opposition parties.
“The civic polls will be conducted on Nov 24, as planned, despite boycotts announced by some opposition parties,” said Waitara.
Waitara said, the government has prepared to ensure peaceful election, warning the opposition and other citizens to refrain from instigating chaos during and after the election.
In addition, Home Affairs Minister, Kangi Lugola, directed the Inspector General of Police to take action against some people reportedly planning to instigate chaos, at various parts of the country, in order to disrupt the electoral process.
“Security organs, including the police are determined to ensure peace throughout the elections. We will use all resources to control malpractices during the polls, and ensure Tanzanians practice their right to vote,” said Lugola.
The Nov 24 civic polls will be the sixth, since the country re-introduced multiparty democracy.
Jafo said recently, the target was to register 22.9 million voters, but only 19.7 million registered for the polls.
Statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics show that, there are 26,960,485 eligible voters in the country. There are 22 registered political parties in Tanzania.– NNN-XINHUA