Registrar John Tendwa

Plans are underway to deregister automatically non-performing political parties that have failed to meet agreed objectives, Registrar John Tendwa, said here yesterday.

The registrar of political parties said some of the parties, despite having permanent registration for several years still have no representation in Parliament or in local government, saying this amounted to mockery of multiparty democracy.

“There are a number of ‘briefcase parties’ just attending seminars… we must let go political parties of this kind and turn them into non-governmental organisations (NGOs),” Tendwa noted.

Addressing a news conference ahead of the 20th anniversary of re-introduction of multiparty democracy in Tanzania on July 1, Tendwa said the goal of any political party is to take the control of the government

Tanzania has 19 parties with permanent registration but only eight of them have representatives at the level of the national assembly and local government councils.

The eight are Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chedema), Civic United Front (CUF), NCCR-Mageuzi, United Democratic Party (UDP), Tanzania Labour Party (TLP), Chama cha Haki na Ustawi (Chausta) and PPT- Maendeleo.

Tanzania re-introduced multi-party politics in 1992 after its abolition in 1965. Tendwa said the only way to deal with non-performing political parties is automatic deregistration.

His office would take action before a bill is drafted to seek approval to have automatic relegation of parties which in five years fail to do well.

Tendwa called on the leaders to evaluate and monitor the achievements of their parties in past 20 years of multiparty democracy.

He said between 1992 and 1995, a total of 51 parties applied for registration, however only 13 met the criterion.

“It is high time to assess the challenges and achievements so we could prosper. The country is now in stiff political competitiveness which indicates that our multiparty democracy is flourishing,” Tendwa affirmed.

There is a need of incorporating this aspect in the new constitution so that the office of the registrar of political parties can win public trust, Tendwa said.

The move, he said, would help play down claims from different political parties that in its execution of duties the registrar’s office favours the ruling party, CCM.