Polling stations for Ngorongoro residents cause stir

Dar es Salaam. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the President's Office - Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) are at odds over complaints from Ngorongoro residents about being directed to vote in Msomera, Handeni District of Tanga Region.

The issue surfaced when councilors and residents reported the removal of polling stations from the INEC website.

However, residents discovered their names had been transferred after checking the mobile network menu *152*00#.

Despite the outcry, both government institutions have failed to clarify the situation, with each claiming no responsibility.

INEC Information Officer Giveness Aswile said the commission is not responsible for the complaints, as Tamisemi handles the allocation of electoral areas.

"Tamisemi is responsible for the areas' allocation," Aswile said, indicating that a more detailed explanation from their director was forthcoming.

Speaking, Tamisemi Information Officer Nteghenjwa Hoseah insisted that the ministry is not involved, asserting that electoral issues fall under INEC.

"We are not involved in this matter; ask INEC. They are responsible for this," Hoseah stated.

Last weekend, a video surfaced on social media showing individuals identifying themselves as Ngorongoro residents expressing their intention to take legal action against the government for relocating their names to Msomera.

The video included councillors from the Ngorongoro division and other residents accusing INEC of transferring their names to Msomera, despite their continued residence in Ngorongoro.

The Councilor of Alaitole Ward, James Moringe, voiced deep concern and disappointment.

"We were told that relocation was voluntary, yet the current situation suggests otherwise," he said.

According to him, the Ngorongoro division, home to more than 103,000 residents, has been left without a single polling station.

Instead, residents' names have been transferred to polling stations in the Sale and Loliondo divisions.

"Why did the government make this a necessity when we were informed that relocation was voluntary? Why not deal with those who have already moved and let us vote here since moving there is supposed to be voluntary?" he questioned.

The Councilor of Alailelelai Ward, Shutuk Kitamwasi, echoed these sentiments, stating that the issue is a clear sign that the Maasai community is being marginalized, especially in the Ngorongoro area.

"There is no problem with people voluntarily relocating from Ngorongoro, but those of us who remain should not be denied our fundamental rights, such as the right to vote," he emphasized.

He added, "We are currently planning to file a lawsuit to understand the legal basis for this decision."

For his part, Ngorongoro Member of Parliament, Emmanuel Ole Shangai, has intervened in the controversy surrounding the relocation of residents' names from voting centers in Ngorongoro to Msomera, Tanga.

The area to which their names have been moved is where the government recommended them to relocate voluntarily (Msomera).

According to Mr Ole Shangai, only 7,000 people have moved there, while more than 103,000 people remain in Ngorongoro.

"I also received information about this and checked, finding my details listed as Msomera.

But also, on the INEC website, all the centres in Ngorongoro are not on the list," he said.

He continued, "When I contacted INEC, they said they had not changed any information and that people would be able to update their information during the revision of the permanent voter register.

This confuses us because none of the voting centers in the entire division are on the list, and those are the places where people are supposed to verify and correct their information, as currently, the records show we are in Msomera."

However, a national coordinator of the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC), Onesmo Olengurumwa, stated that the affected area is significant because Ngorongoro accounts for nearly half of the population of Ngorongoro District, which has more than 250,000 people.

"At a time when we are striving for free and fair elections, this should not be happening, as it will be a blemish on our upcoming elections," he said.

He continued: "President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been seen as very attentive to issues of good governance, and the 4Rs have served as proof that she is a believer in democracy.

She can stop this, allowing the people of that area to exercise their rights without any challenges or difficulties."