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Four opposition parties sue NEC chairman, AG
2007-10-06 09:00:31
By Keregero Keregero
Four opposition parties have asked the High Court in Dar es Salaam to restrain the chairman of the National Electoral Commission from holding a planned by-election in 16 wards until all those eligible are registered and allowed to vote.
The request is in the form of a seven-page petition also served upon the Attorney General as second respondent.
It was filed yesterday by Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), Civic United Front (CUF), National Convention for Construction and Reform ((NCCR-Mageuzi), and Tanzania Labour Party (TLP).
The wards in question include Kilema Kaskazini, Marumba, Muhuwesi, Majengo, Ifunda, Ulanda, Masuguru, Mkula and Mwandu.
Others are Sombetini, Katazi, Kabwe, Namanyere, Namkukwe, Ngulinguli and Lipumburu.
In their joint petition, signed by senior officers of the respective parties and filed through Mpoki and Associates Advocates, the parties also seek an order allowing the names of all residents of the 16 wards eligible to vote on October 28, this year and not registered in 2004 to appear in the voters` register.
They further want the court to declare that the NEC chairman`s order or decision not to register the respective voters aged 18 and above in the temporary voters` register violates Article 21(I) of the country`s Constitution and Section 13 of the National Elections Act.
The parties have also asked the court to award them costs and any other relief in connection with their petition.
The parties argue that the decision by the first respondent would deny about 50,000 would-be voters now aged 18 and 19 their constitutional right to vote in the by-election.
According to the petitioners, the NEC chairman`s decision would also deprive those concerned their constitutional right to take part in the governance of their country.
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