TOC elections await IOC’s word on amended constitution
Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC) secretary general Filbert Bayi. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The elections, originally scheduled for December 14, were postponed to December 28 but later cancelled because the electoral process began before the TOC constitution was ratified.
Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC) has announced that its leadership elections will depend on the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s decision regarding the amendments to its constitution.
The elections, originally scheduled for December 14, were postponed to December 28 but later cancelled because the electoral process began before the TOC constitution was ratified.
The acting registrar of clubs and sports associations cancelled the elections due to unresolved constitutional issues. TOC has since amended its constitution and is now awaiting endorsement from IOC.
Thereafter, the revised constitution will be submitted to the registrar of clubs and sports associations for final approval.
Speaking with The Citizen yesterday, TOC Secretary-General Filbert Bayi explained that they are currently preparing a report on the general meeting held last December in Dodoma, which will be forwarded to IOC.
“IOC will give a decision on our constitution, and once approved, we will submit it to the registrar for further decisions,” said Bayi. He added that if all procedures yield positive results, TOC will request funding, at least Sh95 million, from IOC to conduct the elections.
“The IOC will provide funding if we comply with their regulations following the constitutional amendments.
“That’s the current status of our pending elections,” Bayi elaborated.
He also noted that the TOC electoral committee has ceased operations due to those unresolved issues.
Candidates and electoral process
When the previous electoral process was halted, 27 candidates had expressed interest in vying for various positions, including four running for the presidency.
Among the presidential candidates were Njombe Regional Commissioner Anthony Mtaka, outgoing TOC vice president Henry Tandau, Nasra Mohammed, and Michael Washa.
For the vice presidency, two candidates from Zanzibar had declared their bids. Other aspirants had shown interest in 10 committee member positions.
However, the entire electoral process will now restart, and all candidates who had submitted nomination fees will be refunded.
TOC remains optimistic that the amendments will soon be approved, paving the way for transparent and compliant elections to shape the future of Tanzania’s Olympic leadership.
