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Activist challenges composition of NEC
2006-01-09 08:38:26
By Joyce Mkinga
Raphel Chobuyaga, a political activist, has submitted a 90-day notice to sue the government and the National Electoral Commission (NEC) against the appointment of officials in the Electoral Commission.
In the notice presented to the Attorney General Chambers on December 12 last year by Safari Law Chambers, Chobuyaga demands that the government should declare that Sections 4, 7, and 8 of the Elections Act of 1985 as unconstitutional.
According to the petitioner, the appointment and composition of the Electoral Commission’s Director of Elections, Returning Officers, Regional Officers and Regional Election Co-ordinators contravenes Article 9 (f) and (g) and 21 (I) of the country Constitution of the Republic of Tanzania because they do not ensure parliamentary and presidential elections in Tanzania to be free and fair.
’The appointment of the Electoral Commission, the Director of Elections, Returning Officers and Regional Co-ordinators do not consider the interest of the voters in the electoral process,’ said part of the Chobuyaga’s Notice to the Attorney General.
It adds: ’The composition of the Electoral Commission, says the activist, does not guarantee its independence from the ruling government thus likely to be biased in favour of the government, thereby affecting the results of the elections against the interest of the voters.’
The petitioner prays that the appointment of the officials should involve the participation of the voters and their political representatives in terms of the articles of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania.
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