BRIEFING FOR INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS:
THE ZANZIBAR ELECTORAL COMMISSION PREPARATIONS
FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION 2015
1.0. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
1.1. Short Historical Background of Multiparty System in
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania comprises of Tanzania Mainland
(formerly known as Tanganyika) and Tanzania Zanzibar. Before the
attainment of Tanganyika Independence in 1961 and prior to the
Revolution of Zanzibar in 1964, the Political System was Multi-party.
After the Independence of Tanganyika and Revolution in Zanzibar,
the United Republic of Tanzania adopted a single-party Political
System and the Country was under the rule of one Party, Chama cha
Mapinduzi (CCM).
In 1992 a Presidential Commission known as the Nyalali Commission
was given the task of collecting the views of Tanzanians on whether
or not Tanzania should continue with Monopartism. The Presidential
Commission recommended the Multiparty System and the formation
of an Electoral Commission which would be responsible for the
conduct of elections. The recommendations were accepted by the
Government.
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Following the re-introduction of Multiparty System in Tanzania in
1992, the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, 1977 and
the Constitution of Zanzibar,1984 were accordingly amended to cater
for the same. Consequently the Political Parties Act of 1992 was
enacted to regulate the formation and registration of Political Parties.
The Zanzibar Electoral Commission was established under Section
119(1) of the Zanzibar Constitution,1984 to supervise and coordinate
the conduct of Presidential, House of Representatives and Councilors’
Elections.
1.2 Electoral System
The Electoral System in use in Tanzania is First-Past-the-Post. That
means, a candidate who wins majority of votes is declared a winner.
Furthermore there is a form of proportional representation system
whereby House of Represantative Women special seats are allocated
to Political Parties depending on number of seats each Political Party
obtained in House of Representative. The allocation of Councilors
Special Seats depends on number of seats each Political Party won in
Councilors’ Election.
1.3. The Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC)
The Zanzibar Electoral Commission is comprised of seven
Commissioners who are appointed by the President of Zanzibar. This
Commissioners are the Chairman, two members who are appointed
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after consultation with the Leader of the Government Businesses in
the House of Representatives and two members who are appointed
after consultation with the Leader of Opposition in the House of
Representatives and if there is no leader of opposition in consultation
with Political Parties. One member amongst the judges and one
member at the discretion of the President. The tenure of office for
each member is five years and it can be renewed. The President
after recommendation of Commission of enquiry, may remove the
member of the Commission. These members may only be removed
from office for inability to discharge his/her functions arising from
infirmity or from other reasons or misconduct or for losing
qualifications.
1.4 The Functions of the Commission
The functions of the Commission are:-
a) The overall supervision of the general conduct of all
Presidential, members of the House of Representatives and
Local Authorities Leader election in Zanzibar;
b) Promotion and regulation of voter education
c) Demarcation of constituencies
d) Conducting referendum
e) Prepare and supervise the Permanent Voter Register
f) Appointment of officers to hold office in the commission
1.5. Independence of the Commission
The Independence of the Commission is well guaranteed under
section 119(11) and (12) of the Constitution as such the Commission
is not obliged to comply with orders or directions of any person or
any Government Department or the views of any Political Party. The
Constitution also restricts any Court of laws to interfere with the
commission in implementing its functions mandated by the law.
1.6. Registration of Political Parties
According to the Political Parties Act, of 1992 (Cap. 258) the mandate
of the registration of Political Parties is vested with the Registrar of
Political Parties. Since the re-introduction of Multiparty System,
twenty two (22) Political parties have been permanently registered.
The existing political Parties are:-
(i) Alliance for Farmers Party (AFP)
(ii) Africa Progressive Party of Tanzania (APPT – MAENDELEO)
(iii) Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT)
(iv) Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM)
(v) Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA)
(vi) Chama cha Haki na Ustawi (CHAUSTA)
(vii) Chama cha Ukombozi wa Umma (Chaumma)
(viii) Chama cha Kijamii (CCK)
(ix) Civic United Front (CUF)
(x) Democratic Party (DP)
(xi) Jahazi Asilia (JAHAZI)
(xii) Demokrasia Makini (MAKINI)
(xiii) National Convention for Construction and Reform (NCCR –
MAGEUZI)
(xiv) National League for Democracy (NLD)
(xv) National Reconstruction Aliance (NRA)
(xvi) Sauti ya Umma (SAU)
(xvii) Tanzania Democratic Alliance (TADEA)
(xviii)Tanzaniza labour Party (TLP)
(xix) United Democratic Party (UDP)
(xx) Union for Multi-party Democracy (UMD)
(xxi) United people’s Democratic Party (UPDP)
2.0. PREPARATION FOR THE 2015 GENERAL ELECTION
As you may be aware, the fifth General Election since the reintroduction
of Multiparty System is scheduled to take place on 25th
October 2015. In preparation for the election, the Commission has
accomplished and continues to pursue various preparatory tasks.
The tasks which so far have been accomplished are:-
2.1. Review of Electoral Laws
After the 2010 General Election, ZEC reviewed various electoral laws
and identified areas for improvement in an effort to promote
efficiency in the implementation of Electoral process. The review led
to the amendment of the Electoral Regulations, The Code of Conduct
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for Political Parties and Code of Conducts of Election Observers. The
Commission Printed 4000 Copies of the Elections Act and distributed
to stakeholder.
2.2. Demarcation of Constituencies
The Zanzibar Electoral Commission is responsible for the demarcation
of Constituency boundaries. Under the Zanzibar Constitution the
Commission is required to review constituency boundaries at least
every ten (10) years. The last major review was conducted in 2005.
The Zanzibar Electoral Commission before this General Election,
conducted another major review and it increased the number of
Constituencies from 50 to 54.
2.3. Update of Permanent Voters Register (PVR)
Two rounds of Registration for new voters and updating of the
Permanent Voter Register were conducted in 2013 and 2015
respectively. After the closure of the Register total of 503,860 were
registered.
Due to increased number of registered voters, the total number of
Polling Centre (District) are 380 and Polling Stations are 1580.
2.4. Voter Education.
The Zanzibar Electoral Commission has the Legal Mandate to provide
Voter Education, to supervise and coordinate other persons who also
provide Vote Education. For the 2015 General Election, the Zanzibar
Electoral Commission has prepared Voter Education Strategic Plan
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and guidelines which have already been printed and distributed to
other Stakeholders. The plan gives guidance on how to disseminate
voter education throughout the Country.
Currently, ZEC is providing awareness massages with regard to
voting procedures. This is done through the media, that is, TV and
Radio. Also ZEC is monitoring NGOs which have been given
permission to provide voter education in the regions. ZEC in
collaboration with UNDP under Democratic Empowerment Project
printed posters and leaflets which have been distributed all over the
country. Some Voter Education information has been published in
the newspapers.
2.6. Nomination of Candidates
ZEC concluded nomination of candidates on the 6th of September
2015.
Fourteen Presidential candidates were nominated as shown in
the table below.
Party Party Name Candidate Name ADATADEA Africa Democratic Alliance
Party JUMA Ali Khatib AFP Alliance For Tanzania
Farmers Party
SAIDI Soud Saidi CHAUMMA Chama cha Ukombozi wa Umma MOHAMMED MasoudRashid ADC Alliance For Democratic
Change HAMAD Rashid
Mohammed
JA Jahazi Asilia KASSIM Bakari Ali CUF Chama cha Wananchi - CUF SEIF Sharif Hamad DP Democratic Party ABDALLAH Kombo
Khamis SAU Sauti ya Umma I SSA Mohamed
Zonga DM Chama cha Demokrasia
Makini TABU Mussa Juma CCM Chama cha Mapinduzi ALI Mohamed Shein ACT-W Alliance for Change and
Transparency KHAMIS Idd Lila NRA National Reconstruction
Alliance SEIF Ali Iddi CCK Chama Cha Kijamii ALI Khatib Ali TLP Tanzania Labour Party HAFIDH Hassan
Suleiman
For the House Elections there are 180 candidates from 17 Political
Parties, and for the local Government Election there are 385
candidate from 18 Political Parties.
2.7 Election Campaign.
Campaign meetings commenced on 7
th September, 2015, second day
after nomination of candidates. According to the electoral laws, all
Election Campaign meeting must be coordinated by the Zanzibar
Electoral Commission. ZEC in collaboration with other stakeholders
prepared joint campaigns programme for National and District level.
2.8 Observation of the Electoral Code Conduct.
As earlier stated, the electoral code of conduct specifies the dos and
don’ts during the campaign period and on the polling day. Essentially
it is also an instrument for conflict resolving mechanism as it provides
for establishment of Electoral code of conduct Committees, which are
empowered to resolve disputes or complaints between the parties
signatory to it. To date number of Observers who were accredited is
1355, where 1250 are Local observers from 17 groups, and 105 are
International Observers from 16 groups
The ZEC operationalized the work of the Electoral Code of Conduct
Committees immediately after the commencement of Election
campaigns. So far only one complaint has been lodged and decided.
2.10. Procurement and Distribution of Election Material
All election materials have been procured, delivered and distributed
to the District level. On 24th October, 2015 all materials shall be
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distributed to the Polling stations along with ballot papers. Indeed the
distribution of all materials is expected to meet the required
timelines.
2.11. Planning for the Election Day.
The Returning Officers are responsible for the activities of Election
Day in their constituencies under the direction and supervision of the
ZEC.
Critical Activities include:-
Appointment and training of polling staff which was successful
conducted on 19 to 21 October, 2015.
o Physical assessment and layout of polling station.
o Receiving and storage of the Election Materials.
o Planning for distribution of the Election material to the polling
station and their retrieval.
o Consultation with political parties for the appointment of
political parties Agent.
o Organization of the tallying centers.
o Results announcement and dissemination.
3. FINANCING
The Government of the Zanzibar has released to ZEC all the funds
budgeted for the Conduct of the Election. Total funds budgeted for
the conduct of the General Election and approved is TZS. 7.5 Billion. ZEC also receive support form UNDP under Democratic
Empowerment Project in term of procurement of some Election
materials, capacity building to ZEC staff, and enhancing engagement
of electoral stakeholders.
4. AN OVERVIEW OF PROCEDURES FOR VOTING, COUNTING
AND TALLYING OF VOTES
4.1 Voting.
Voting exercise will take place in polling stations. Polling stations will
be opened from 7.00 am to 4.00 pm. Every voter who want to vote
should present himself/herself to the polling stations. Voters who will
be allowed to vote are only those who have voters’ cards and their
names appear in the Voter Register. Voters without Voters’ cards will
not be allowed to vote.
In the polling Station, there will be Polling Agents who are appointed
by Political Parties to oversee the voting exercise and to represent
the interest of their political Parties and candidates. According to the
Electoral laws, Political Parties agents have a right have a right of
expressing their dissatisfaction where there are irregularities in the
conduct of voting exercise by filling some prescribed forms. Persons
who are allowed to be present in the polling Station are; presiding
officer, polling Assistants, Polling Agent, Voter, a Person Assisting an
incapacitated voter, Observer duly authorized in waiting by the
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Commission, Candidate, member of the Commission, director of
Elections, an officer of the Commission, returning Officer or Assistant
Returning officer. No person other than the above mentioned is
allowed to be in a polling Station.
4.2 Counting of Votes.
Counting of votes shall take place in polling station, immediately after
the closing of polling. A presiding officer in a polling station shall
count all the votes in the presence of persons who are allowed to be
in the Polling Station in accordance with the Electoral laws, these
include political Parties Agents. After Counting of all Votes the
Presiding Officer records the result in the specified form and asks the
Polling agents, if present, to sign the same. Then he/she shall post a
copy of the Result Form for every election in a conspicuous place
outside the Polling Station and provides each Political Party Agent
with a copy of the Result form. Thereafter the presiding Officer
collects all the elections materials and sends them to the head
quarters of the Constituency together with the results forms and
ballot boxes. Political Parties Agents are allowed to escort the
presiding officer to the Headquarters of the Constituency.
4.3. TALLYING OF VOTES
The returning officer, after receiving all the results forms from all
Polling Station, and in the presence of the persons who are allowed
to be in the tallying Centers, firstly they determine all the disputed
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voted if they are the they add all the results. In accordance with the
Elections Act, No. 11 of 1984, the Returning Officers are supposed to
start with the presidential Election Results. After addition of the
Presidential Election Result, the returning Officers record the results
of Constituencies in the Result forms, and cause the Forms to be
signed by political parties Agents present in the tallying Centers.
Then each Political Party’s Agent will be provided with a copy of
election result form and post one copy in a conspicuous place outside
the tallying centers. Thereafter, they transmit the Presidential
Election Result to the Commission.
At the Headquarters of the Commission, the Commission receives the
results from Constituencies and after verification it announces them
as they are received. After it has received all the results, the
Commission add all the results and records the result form and cause
the form to be signed by Political Parties Agents, if present. Then it
announces the final results and declares the winner.
5 CONCLUSION
In view of the above measures, it is without doubt, that preparations
for the fourth-coming General election are in good progress. ZEC is
definitely focused to ensure that the election is efficiently conducted
in order to achieve a more free, fair and transparent election.
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I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
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