Stage set for civic polls

DODOMA: PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan yesterday led Tanzanians in a 10- day exercise to register for the much-awaited 2024 Local Government Election scheduled to take place on November 27, this year.

The Head of State registered at her Chamwino village office just outside the main gate of the State House in the country’s capital, where she asked all eligible Tanzanians to follow the suit.

Speaking immediately after being listed in the register, Dr Samia asked Tanzanians to utilise the given period to exercise their democratic rights by ensuring that they register as well as participate in the election.

She said the ongoing exercise was of unique importance because the leaders to be elected will help in issues of security and peace at the local levels, adding that social services ought to begin at the local leadership levels.

“I wish to ask all eligible Tanzanians that beginning today, October 11 to 20 this year, to participate in the registration exercise at their localities as well as secure chances to vote or be voted for in the coming civil poll,’’ she noted.

Adding; “This system is constitutional; therefore, everyone has the right to vote or get voted for as long as he/she possesses required qualifications,’’ she added.

The local government election is expected to be conducted on Wednesday, November 27, 2024. President Samia said that the day was selected due to the fact that during the end of the week people ought to go for prayers.

Therefore, she said that this will be declared a public holiday so that each Tanzanian gets the opportunity to participate in the crucial exercise.

Furthermore, the Head of State noted that it is important for the public to differentiate registration for the local government election and the ongoing updating of the Permanent Voter’s Register (PVR).

“There has been some confusion between the registration for the local government election, which begins today, October 11, and runs until October 20 this year and the updating of the Permanent Voter Register (PVR) for the general election,’’ she said.

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Dr Samia said that she had decided to register at the beginning due to a tight schedule ahead, including celebrations for Youth Week and the climax for the Uhuru Torch race scheduled for next Monday in Mwanza Region.

When addressing journalists on Thursday, the Director of Information Services and Government’s Chief Spokesperson, Thobias Makoba, asked leaders at all levels, whether in the central or local government and government agencies, to continue intensifying the awareness campaign for all Tanzanians with the requisite qualifications to register themselves for the next poll.

“The government also reminds all stakeholders to continue providing civic education so that Tanzanians do not confuse registering for a civic election with an exercise to register for next year’s general election,” he noted.

He insisted that the registration for participating in civic polls, which kicked off yesterday, was being managed by the President’s Office—Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), while Registration in the PVR for the next general election was being carried out by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).