No campaigning in religious places ahead of Tanzania presidential election

The National Electoral Commission (NEC) of Tanzania now says presidential and parliamentary candidates who campaign in places of worship risks punishment.

NEC chair Justice Damien Lubavu has consistently warned politicians against soliciting votes at places of worship during their campaigns ahead of the upcoming October 25th General Elections.

Justice Lubuva says there will be consequences if politicians are found guilty of engaging in ethnic and religious pronouncements to win votes at places of worship.

“It’s not in line with the 2015 General Election guidelines, which were signed by all political parties, and among many other things was that they should not use places of worship as areas of carrying out campaigns,” said Lubuva as quoted by the Voice of America.

“I strongly warned those who have already done it not to do it again. If they repeat, we will invoke the Ethics Conduct Committee, in which they would be summoned, and if they are found to have breached [the guidelines] they are liable for some punishment, which may include being barred from further campaign.”

The electoral commission, according to highly placed sources, is yet to receive the ballot papers to be used in the elections and is being printed from outside the country.

Last week, Lubuva said his organization is fully prepared to administer this year’s vote.

“We have contracted with an international organization through the tender process, where we have followed the Public Procurement Act. So far, we hope things would go on as scheduled,” he was quoted as saying by VoA.

The electoral commission is hopeful that this year’s turnout will be better compared to other elections that have previously registered very low voter turnout.

In the 2010 election, only 10 million of the 20 million registered voters turned out to vote. This year, there are 24 million registered voters with the youth making over 60%.

The electoral commission says it has implemented measures to smoothen the process of granting accreditation to both local and international poll observer groups interested in monitoring the elections.

This year’s presidential poll has attracted eight candidates include; John Pombe Magufuli of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), Edward Ngoyai Lowassa of Chadema, Anna Mhgwira of the ACT Wazalendo, Machmillan Elifatio Lyimo of TLP, Ndugu Hashim Rungwe Spunda of CHAUMMA, Chief Lutalosa Yemba of ADC and Janken Malik Kasambala of NRA.