Augustine Moshi
JF-Expert Member
- Apr 22, 2006
- 2,554
- 1,382
What does it feel like to have elections that are widely hailed as being democratic? We wouldn't know since we haven't had anything like that in Tanzania.
International Observers at the 1995 general elections are on record as saying that they witnessed irregularities that they hadn't seen anywhere else in the world! Many Tanzanians felt that CUF won those elections handsomely on the Isles, and that Mrema beat Mkapa in the Presidential elections!
So, the 1995 general elections satisfied neither our citizens nor international observers!
Most of us were satisfied that the 2000 general elections were won by Mkapa, but once again, many cases of intrigue and manipulation were observed. There were stories of widespread rigging that was carried out by national security organs, with the blessing of the NEC (National Electoral Commission).
It is interesting to note that in places like Bariadi, the very prominent candidate there, Cheyo (alias Mapesa), did not even get credited with his families' ballots. That is how bad the rigging was!
The recent election case that pitied Dr. Slaa against some CCM loser was instructive. It brought to the fore how NEC officials are directly used by some parties to alter election results.
The recently held by-elections in Musoma and Mbeya are nothing to be proud of. We heard of cases of actual fights using bush knives in Musoma. In Mbeya, no more than 35% of the registered voters bothered to show up! The reason was that Judge Makame found himself some silly excuse that enabled him to bar the peoples' choice. The main winner in the Mbeya by-election was none other than Judge Lewis Makame.
The Electoral Commission bears much blame. It seems to work for one particular party. It is designed to be under the ruling party. The head of the NEC is appointed by the leader of the ruling party. That is manifestly wrong. The entire commission ought to be formed by parliament and be answerable only to parliament.
We envy countries like Ghana where elections are internationally acknowledged as being democratic. We need to review the NEC and the appropriate laws before the next general elections
International Observers at the 1995 general elections are on record as saying that they witnessed irregularities that they hadn't seen anywhere else in the world! Many Tanzanians felt that CUF won those elections handsomely on the Isles, and that Mrema beat Mkapa in the Presidential elections!
So, the 1995 general elections satisfied neither our citizens nor international observers!
Most of us were satisfied that the 2000 general elections were won by Mkapa, but once again, many cases of intrigue and manipulation were observed. There were stories of widespread rigging that was carried out by national security organs, with the blessing of the NEC (National Electoral Commission).
It is interesting to note that in places like Bariadi, the very prominent candidate there, Cheyo (alias Mapesa), did not even get credited with his families' ballots. That is how bad the rigging was!
The recent election case that pitied Dr. Slaa against some CCM loser was instructive. It brought to the fore how NEC officials are directly used by some parties to alter election results.
The recently held by-elections in Musoma and Mbeya are nothing to be proud of. We heard of cases of actual fights using bush knives in Musoma. In Mbeya, no more than 35% of the registered voters bothered to show up! The reason was that Judge Makame found himself some silly excuse that enabled him to bar the peoples' choice. The main winner in the Mbeya by-election was none other than Judge Lewis Makame.
The Electoral Commission bears much blame. It seems to work for one particular party. It is designed to be under the ruling party. The head of the NEC is appointed by the leader of the ruling party. That is manifestly wrong. The entire commission ought to be formed by parliament and be answerable only to parliament.
We envy countries like Ghana where elections are internationally acknowledged as being democratic. We need to review the NEC and the appropriate laws before the next general elections