17 Zanzibari parties agree to election code of conduct

Seventeen registered political parties in Tanzania's semiautonomous island of Zanzibar have signed an electoral code of conduct ahead of the 30 October general elections, according to electoral commission officials. "The move is aimed at facilitating free, fair and peaceful elections," Augustino Ramadhani, vice-chairman of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC), said from the island on Monday The code signed on Saturday binds all political stakeholders to responsible behavior during campaign, election and after the polls. It also commits all political parties to respect and accept the official poll results, forbids the use of offensive and derogatory language in the run-up to and during the elections. "It is also important for the parties to respect the verdict of the people," Ramadhani, who is also a judge of Tanzania Court of Appeal, said. The code also prohibits religious leaders from using their positions to campaign for parties and called on the state media to be impartial. The government is forbidden from harassing and undermining political parties while ZEC is expected to ensure that there is transparency and fair play in the electoral process. The Forum for the Restoration of Democracy was the only party with permanent registration that did not sign the agreement.