NEC Chairman (rtd) Judge Damian Lubuva
NEC Chairman (rtd) Judge Damian Lubuva revealed the stance on Friday following concerns from the country’s political opposition that the exercise might end in a fiasco following poor preparation.
“In case the commission does not find it easy to complete the job it might consider extending the registration process,” he declared, saying there was no need for political parties to get vexed up as NEC will address queries by sitting around the table.
He was responding to CUF Youth wing’s Friday resolve to go for street demonstration as a way to press NEC into extending the time for voters’ registration.
However, he was optimistic that the registration that would be carried out in seven days in every four regional zones starting February 23, would go on as planned though the commission was also considering suggestions from major political opposition parties.
He had on the previous day met with leaders of the main political parties who expressed discontent over how NEC was preparing for the exercise.
The exercise will start with Southern Tanzania regions namely Njombe, Lindi, Mtwara and Ruvuma to be accomplished in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar later next month.
Through the new technology, which will be used to register voters in the Permanent Voter Register (PVR), NEC conducted a pilot project in Dar es Salaam (Kawe constituency), Katavi (Mlele constituency) and Morogoro (Kilombero constituency).
Judge Lubuva said the pilot project was a success in all the regions it was used, expressing optimism that the system will register all eligible voters without hitches.
Yet, leaders of political parties were pessimistic whether NEC would be able to complete the exercise on time.
They cited lack of civic education as well as delays in commencement of the registration as a holdup to smooth implementation of the scheme.
Judge Lubuva maintained that the pilot project recorded massive turnout, surpassing the target that was set by NEC despite a number of challenges that were faced.
Though Judge Lubuva asked the public to keep calm while NEC was mending the discrepancies that may arise during the exercise, some members of the public were skeptic of the remarks.
Martha Joseph, petty trader at Mwenge suggested the government to clear the mess out of the local government elections before embarking to another head-cracking saga.
She believes that NEC will never make up with the schedule.
But Karim Mkokoya, a taxi driver at Mikocheni concurs with the opposition saying that the time for registration is not sufficient, given day- time activities of Dar es Salaam residents.
He too asks for extension.
Sharifa Omari, a mother of three said she had no time for politics and was not even interested in knowing when the registration will be conducted.
Salim Ali, a shopkeeper at Makumbusho commuter bus station said, “I’m told we will be asked to use new technology in voting but I don’t have an idea of what it is supposed to mean.”
He believes that the whole exercise is a mere waste of time.
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