The National Election Committee (NEC) has changed the voting forms for the Arusha byelection as more than 60,000 residents of four wards get to vote on Sunday.
The NEC Chairman, Justice (rtd) Damian Lubuva
National Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Judge Damian Lubuva stated here that both voting forms and result sheets have been replaced.
“The old ballot papers featured a light green colour but the ones NEC has brought to Arusha, for today’s elections feature pink,” stated Judge Lubuva adding that even the serial numbers have changed.
“The main reason is that, people complained that, after the polls were postponed twice, there is a possibility that old ballot papers could be tampered with,” explained Judge Lubuva. A bomb which exploded at a political campaign rally in Kaloleni on the 15th of June caused the initial election date of June 16 to be pushed forward to the 30th of June and polls were postponed to July 14.
In a related development, political parties have raised concern regarding NEC directives that people should not venture near the voting stations within a distance of 200 metres after casting their votes. They argued that the law states 100 metres not more.
A total of 60,123 legible voters are voting in the ongoing by-election polls being held in four city wards of Elerai, Kaloleni, Themi and Kimandolu today. An official statement from the Returning Officer, Ms Sipora Liana reveals that twelve contestants representing six political parties will be vying for the four vacant Ward Representative seats in Kaloleni, Themi, Elerai and Kimandolu.
“There will be 136 voting stations; Elerai with 23,797 voters will have 55 stations, Kimandolu with 17,294 voters (39), Kaloleni with 12, 636 voters (27), and Themi with 6,396 voters has 15 stations,” said Ms Liana who is also the Executive Arusha City Director.
Voting will start at 7.00 am, with the stalls expected to be closed at 4.00 pm, results will start flowing from 6.00 pm if all goes well. There will be 416 election officers, serving under other 136 invigilators and 8 auxiliary supervisors.
Candidates running for Elerai Ward include Mwalimu Emmanual Laizer (CCM), Mr Gilbert John Bayo (CUF), Mr Seif Kassim Simba of Chama Cha Kijamii (CCK), Engineer Jeremiah Mpinga (CHADEMA) and Mr Boisafi Shirima of the Tanzania Labour Party (TLP).
In Kaloleni there will be Mr Emmanuel Kessy, of CHADEMA, Mr Darwesh Abbas Mkindi (CUF), Simon Paul Ngilisho of Demokrasia Makini and Mr Emmanual Thomas Miliari (CCM).
Themi contestants include, Mr Victor Mkolwe (CCM), Mr Melance Kinabo (CHADEMA) and Mr Petro Ndaproi (CUF) while in Kimandolu there is the sole female candidate, Ms Edna Jonathan Saul (CCM) who is expected to wrestle with Pastor Rayson Elshadai Ngowi of CHADEMA.
By MARC NKWAME, Tanzania Daily News
