Electoral body details polling, results procedure

Tanzania's National Electoral Commission (NEC) is the sole authority responsible for announcing results of general elections polls to be held in the country on Sunday, Commission Chairman Lewis Makame announced on Tuesday. "Winners of parliamentary seats will be announced by returning officers posted in the constituencies, while the victors for councillorship seats will be named by assistant returning officers in the wards," he said in a statement. Tanzanians go to the polls to elect a new president, members of parliament and councillors in the country's third general election under the multiparty political system, which was reintroduced in 1992. In the semi-autonomous Indian Ocean islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, voters there will also vote for a Zanzibar president and members of the House of Representatives. "In order to enhance democracy, we are not going to wait for all constituencies to bring in presidential results and then make the announcement, they will be announced by NEC after verification as they trickle in from constituencies," Makame said. He said polling stations would open from 0700 to 1600. After voting, he said, people should go home and wait for the results, warning that it was risky to remain around the polling stations. However, he said, in Zanzibar polling stations would open at 0700 and close at 1700. "Voting in Zanzibar has been extended for an hour to give voters there more time because they need more time to cast five papers than their mainland counterparts who will have three papers," he said. He said those who would be allowed to vote must be registered in the commission's permanent voter's register and must have voter's cards. "If you don't come with your card you will not vote and if your names is not listed at the particular polling station, no voting," he said. At least 15 million Tanzanians are registered voters. Makame also said the country had invited foreign and local observers to monitor the polling, but their mandate was restricted to observation only. "They are not supposed to issue any instructions or orders to election officials," he added. Moreover, he said the role of local and foreign journalists was restricted to coverage of the electoral process. "They are not allowed inside the polling station or counting centres," he said. He also said poll campaigns would end at 1800 on Saturday. "No one is allowed to continue with campaigns after that time," he said. "People are not allowed to go to polling stations clad in campaign T-shirts and caps or carrying portraits of candidates or their party flags." He added; "It is also a criminal offence to go the polling stations carrying weapons of any type."