Voter roll hits 94.83pc

DAR ES SALAAM:  OVER 31 million eligible Tanzanians, representing 94.83 per cent, have registered on the voter roll for the upcoming Local Government Elections, scheduled for 27th November this year.

According to the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Mohamed Mchengerwa, this number marks a significant increase compared to the 2019 Local Government Elections.

In 2019, a total of 19,681,256 voters were registered, which was 86 per cent of the targeted 22,916,412 voters.

This year’s record was achieved following a 10-day registration exercise launched by President Samia Suluhu Hassan on 11th October.

President Samia led the nation in the 10-day exercise to register for the much-anticipated 2024 civic polls.

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

Speaking shortly after being registered, Dr Samia encouraged Tanzanians to make use of the registration period to exercise their democratic rights by ensuring they not only register but also participate in the election.

The response has been notably better than the previous registration exercise in 2019.

Addressing journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Minister Mchengerwa confirmed that the exercise concluded on Sunday, registering 31,282,331 eligible Tanzanians.

He explained that this registered number equates to 94.83 per cent of the target, which was to register 32,987,579 voters.

“A total of 31,282,331 eligible Tanzanians have registered on the voter roll for the upcoming Local Government Elections. This is equivalent to 94.83 per cent and it reflects a notable increase compared to the previous election,” said the minister.

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He added: “Among those registered, 15,236,772 are men, accounting for 48.71 per cent, while 16,045,559 are women, making up 51.29 per cent.”

The minister credited this milestone to extensive public awareness efforts by the government through the Ministry of State in the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG).

Following the completion of registration, Mr Mchengerwa commended all Tanzanians who registered, emphasising that they have now met the legal requirements to exercise their constitutional right to vote in the upcoming elections on 27th November.

He expressed gratitude to election stakeholders, including the media, religious leaders and political parties, for encouraging eligible citizens to participate in the registration process.

The minister also urged registered citizens to visit their local areas to verify their details on the voter roll. The verification process, which started yesterday, will last for seven days.

“A list of names will be displayed from today (yesterday) to allow citizens to verify their information,” he said.

The verification period will run until 27th October.

Furthermore, he encouraged eligible citizens aspiring to contest in the elections to collect and submit their nomination forms between 26th October and 1st November.

“The process of collecting and submitting nomination forms will take place within seven days, from the 26th of this month until 1st November,” he stated.