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Union polls: Registration off to sluggish start on Isles
2005-04-27 21:33:49
By Issa Yussuf, Zanzibar
Registration of voters in Zanzibar for the Union presidential polls began yesterday at a slow pace amid complaints by the Civic United Front (CUF) that its supporters were being barred from registering.
A National Electoral Commission (NEC) official for Urban West Region, Mwalim Hajji Nassor, denied the allegation, saying: We have started on a slow note.
Only a few people have turned up to register despite the awareness campaign conducted by NEC through the media.
Nassor said: According to the electoral laws, all legitimate Tanzanians who qualify to vote in Zanzibar will be registered to participate in the election of the Union president.
Commenting on CUF allegations that a number of Zanzibaris were being barred from registering, he said: I have not received such complaints. As far as electoral laws are concerned, all Tanzanians qualify to vote for president even if they are not Islanders.
CUF elections officer Ayoub Ali Bakari alleged that a number of people who had turned up to register yesterday were turned away after being told that the registration only concerned Tanzania Mainlanders living in Zanzibar.
An on spot check by The Guardian at several voter registration centres, including Stone Town, Kikwajuni, Darajani and Raha Leo, found just a handful of people at the centres.
At some centres, nobody had registered as of 11am.
There were also no party agents and civic leaders (shehas) who have in the recent past been accused of barring people from registering in the just ended voter registration for the Isles polls.
Bored and unarmed administrative police sat idle at the centres with very little to do, which was in marked contrast with the massive presence of armed security forces, including police and members of the Field Force Unit (FFU) and Zanzibar volunteer unit, during the registration for the Zanzibar elections.
There is no tension or disturbance. There are only a few who are showing up as it seems even political parties are not interested in the Union polls, said Nassib Ali Mgowe at Haile Selassie registration centre.
Voter registration for the Union polls in Zanzibar is scheduled to end on May 10, in both Unguja and Pemba.
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