BabuK
JF-Expert Member
- Jul 30, 2008
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The Tanzania Election Monitoring Committee (Temco)?a group which had more than 700 observers in Zanzibar ?has criticised the decision by Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) to cancel the Isles? Presidential election, recommending ?disciplinary action? against its staff.
Addressing journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday while releasing their interim report on last month?s General Election, Temco project coordinator Dr Benson Bana also took issues with the decision of the CUF party to declare its candidate, Seif Shariff Hamad, the winner in the Isles election.
?We urge ZEC to reconsider its decision with a view to attaining democratic, credible, free and fair elections as well as consolidating peace and stability in Zanzibar within the spirit of reconciliation which has facilitated smooth functioning of the government of National Unity installed in 2010,? he said.
While announcing the annulment last month in Zanzibar, ZEC chairman Jecha Salim Jecha said that the October 25 polls were marred by ?irregularities and gross violation of laws and election regulations? and were therefore not free and fair.
The ZEC boss also cited incidents of intimidation of voters in political parties? strongholds and usurping of ZEC?s mandate over the announcement of presidential election results and differences which degenerated into fighting among ZEC members.
?Temco deployed a team of 726 election observers in Zanzibar, including 22 long term observers who were in the Isles for 43 days before the election and 704 short term to watch the Election Day activities including voting, vote counting and declaration of result,? and added:
?Their preliminary reports show that the pre-electoral processes and Election Day activities were conducted professionally, and in an orderly and peaceful manner to the satisfaction of many electoral stakeholders.?
Dr Banna urged political parties and presidential candidates to respect the powers and mandates vested into Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) in accordance with provisions of the Zanzibar Constitution and relevant electoral legislation.
He also pleaded with the top leaders of the union government to consider looking for the ways and means to resolve the incipient conflict which may undermine peaceful co-existence not only in Zanzibar but also on the Mainland.
He advised ZEC commissioners to account for the circumstances leading to the annulment of the elections and the appointing authority to take disciplinary action against ZEC staff for their role in the annulment.
He urged all peace lovers including the international community,
development partners, religious leaders, civil society organisation, retired presidents, the media and all responsible citizens to play a reconciliatory role in order to find a speedy resolution to the issues emanating from the 2015 Zanzibar election.
He called upon the government to review or amend electoral legislation in order to provide independent candidate, challenge presidential election results in a court of law and allow the Diaspora to participate in elections.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
Addressing journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday while releasing their interim report on last month?s General Election, Temco project coordinator Dr Benson Bana also took issues with the decision of the CUF party to declare its candidate, Seif Shariff Hamad, the winner in the Isles election.
?We urge ZEC to reconsider its decision with a view to attaining democratic, credible, free and fair elections as well as consolidating peace and stability in Zanzibar within the spirit of reconciliation which has facilitated smooth functioning of the government of National Unity installed in 2010,? he said.
While announcing the annulment last month in Zanzibar, ZEC chairman Jecha Salim Jecha said that the October 25 polls were marred by ?irregularities and gross violation of laws and election regulations? and were therefore not free and fair.
The ZEC boss also cited incidents of intimidation of voters in political parties? strongholds and usurping of ZEC?s mandate over the announcement of presidential election results and differences which degenerated into fighting among ZEC members.
?Temco deployed a team of 726 election observers in Zanzibar, including 22 long term observers who were in the Isles for 43 days before the election and 704 short term to watch the Election Day activities including voting, vote counting and declaration of result,? and added:
?Their preliminary reports show that the pre-electoral processes and Election Day activities were conducted professionally, and in an orderly and peaceful manner to the satisfaction of many electoral stakeholders.?
Dr Banna urged political parties and presidential candidates to respect the powers and mandates vested into Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) in accordance with provisions of the Zanzibar Constitution and relevant electoral legislation.
He also pleaded with the top leaders of the union government to consider looking for the ways and means to resolve the incipient conflict which may undermine peaceful co-existence not only in Zanzibar but also on the Mainland.
He advised ZEC commissioners to account for the circumstances leading to the annulment of the elections and the appointing authority to take disciplinary action against ZEC staff for their role in the annulment.
He urged all peace lovers including the international community,
development partners, religious leaders, civil society organisation, retired presidents, the media and all responsible citizens to play a reconciliatory role in order to find a speedy resolution to the issues emanating from the 2015 Zanzibar election.
He called upon the government to review or amend electoral legislation in order to provide independent candidate, challenge presidential election results in a court of law and allow the Diaspora to participate in elections.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
