Tanzania: NEC chairman confident of pilot voter’s registration exercise

Morogoro. The National Electoral Commission (NEC) chairman Judge Semistocles Kaijage has expressed satisfaction with the response of the youth in the pilot voter’s registration exercise that took place in three wards across Tanzania Mainland, expressing optimism for the forth coming exercise.

Mr Kaijage made the comments on Friday, March 29, 2019, shortly after visiting Kihonda Ward in Morogoro District Council to monitor the implementation of the project.

He said the commission was satisfied with the positive impact of civic education in the ward, leading to a massive response on the first day of the exercise slated to take seven days.

"Hopefully, more youth will continue coming for registration and acquire the right to participate in the forthcoming General Elections,” he said.

Judge Kaijage also said the exercise aimed at testing the new registration system that would be used during the official registration expected to kick off on a date yet to be named.

 “Some equipment used for registration in 2015 have been damaged and others dilapidated, therefore due to technology demands, we have procured the new ones, but they have to be tested before subjecting them to official use during the countrywide exercise,” he said.

Residents who spoke to The Citizen hailed NEC for providing enough education and mobilization, noting that however information wasn’t clearly communicated to them.

"There are some people possessing Voter’s IDs arriving at the station for the exercise something that wouldn’t be the case if enough education was given. They would use such time for other businesses,” Said Sadiq Lubawa at Azimio Station.

According to the National Electoral Commission the exercise will also take place in Kisarawe District, Coast Region noting that a total of 20 registration centers have been identified.