Millions of Tanzanians yesterday voted in the country's fifth multi-party general election after the re-introduction of political pluralism in 1995 in a 10-hour exercise that was described as generally peaceful.
With an exception of a few skirmishes and technical glitches experienced in some areas, both observers and the police force were united in their 'peaceful election' finding. The National Electoral Commission (NEC) and law enforcers, however, immediately and squarely responded to such few incidents and glitches, thus enabling voters to carry out their democratic right of voting without let or hindrance.
About 23, 253, 982 were registered on both parts of the United Republic. The day provided a climax to the country's fifth general election as fever and tension among supporters of various competing political parties reached their zenith. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Ernest Mangu, described the security situation in the country as generally promising yesterday, save for some minor incidents reported.
Mr Mangu affirmed that the force was well organised to ensure that the country remained peaceful and that any incident of peace breaching is timely and squarely dealt with. "The situation remained calm and peaceful countrywide, regional police commanders (RPCs) have been directed to do everything within their reach to make voters and all Tanzanians live without fear," said IGP Mangu.
He said that police officers were deployed at every polling station to make sure the exercise is run smoothly. According to the IGP, many people turned out for voting while security was beefed up everywhere.
In Dar es Salaam and elsewhere in the country, most streets had been deserted as early as six in the morning, with only a handful of cars seen, giving an impression of a public holiday. Some churches in the country had carried back their Sunday services to Saturday afternoon to allow the faithful to take part in the election.
A number of voters could be seen an hour or more before the polling stations called the people to vote for their presidential, parliamentary and councillorship candidates in the election, which has generated much excitement because of the fierce competition involved, mainly between CCM and CHADEMA.
People from all walks of life, the elderly, the young and those with physical disabilities could not afford to lose their democratic right to choose candidates of their choice this year, a chance which comes after every five years. Take, for example, Ms Mariam Tikawe (44), a resident of Kawe in Dar es Salaam, who is a person with a physical disability.
She expressed delight for what she described as good preparations by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) that gave consideration to the elderly, expectant mothers and those with physical disabilities to put elect leaders of their choice.
Another person, the overwhelmed Kauzeni Madulo (68), was interviewed while walking out of Makurumla polling station in Magomeni, Kinondoni District before he could even vote.
"I woke up very early today without knowing that we (elderly) will be given a special favour. I wrongly picked my national identity card instead of the voter card. I am rushing back home to pick it and rush back to vote. Never before have I seen election of such comparable enthusiasm like this one in 2015," Mr Madulo explained.
However, all was not well as confirmed by the Director of Elections, Mr Kailima Ramadhani Kombwey, reported that at Kimara Temboni area, the opening of some of the polling stations was delayed due to late disruption caused by returning officers who had previously signed work contracts but acted indifferently in the last moment. "The electoral body (NEC) invited applications from the community for the position of returning officers, a departure from the tradition of hiring school teachers," Mr Kailima explained.
He added that after some vetting, qualified candidates signed a work contract, which also entailed the remunerations. Surprisingly, some of the candidates in Kimara changed their minds last night, demanding more payment on top of what was agreed; finally destroying ballot boxes and other important documents. They have been arrested for interrogation by the police," Mr Kailima told reporters.
At the Muungano Local Government Office in Tungi Ward, Kigamboni constituency, there were six polling stations, the exercise peacefully started at around 7:20am. Despite the fact that some clerks and agents from political parties arrived late, the exercise took off peacefully. After casting their votes, the people went back homes as it was earlier directed by both the electoral body and police force.
"I am happy to exercise my democratic right as a Tanzanian, I hope the victory shall go to candidates who I have voted for," said Mr Lusekelo George who called for peaceful election to maintain unity and stability in the country.
In Bonyokwa ward in Segerea constituency, polling stations were opened exactly at 7am with some few people worrying over whether they could all cast their votes.
A resident of Kinyerezi Ward, Mr Martin John said the overall voting exercise was good despite what he described as minor anomalies, including the slow speed by some poll supervisors in conducting the exercise, which created fear that the exercise might not have been concluded. In Mwananyamala, Kawe and Kisutu, there was a big turnout of voters dominated by youth.
It was also learnt that NEC directives that called on voters to refrain from wearing party uniforms was adhered to. The exercise went on smoothly with a few challenges such as high temperature, which gave voters a hard time standing on lines for a long time, with some stations running out of ink.
At Nguvu Mpya Secondary School polling station in Ukonga constituency, voters were observed queuing up in an orderly manner with men and women lined up in separate lines of the station's room as per alphabetical order.
However, some people were complaining on the speed of some of supervisors, which they said caused them to stay at the stations for many hours before casting their vote. In Kimanga and Mawenzi Street in Segerea constituency, a number of voters interviewed said the exercise was carried out serenely and effectively as respective officials timely and politely attended to them.
Though some voters claimed to have not seen their names, one of the poll supervisors played down the claims, saying no eligible registered voter had his or her name skipped. Another voter, Ms Joyce Nakoli, said that she did not expect to see the exercise going on smoothly with no violence as the public had first feared. "It has been a peaceful, calm and well organised election.
May God bless us so that everything ends well," she added. The exercise was also conducted smoothly in Kivule ward in Ukonga despites some challenges that occurred, including some voters who failed to spot their names on the notice board.
At Mbweni ward polling station, the voting exercise started by 7am and the queue started growing in size after 6am, when security officials arrived to make initial preparations.
However, the only insignificant hiccups witnessed at the polling station was when voters were told not to use their mobile phones within three metres of the voting booths, yet some were seen making calls in contravention to the NEC guidelines. But the 'Daily News' saw NEC officials immediately reign in those areas that were seen using their phones within three metres of the voting booths.
In further surveys by this newspaper in Kawe constituency on Sunday, long queues of voters were seen at Bunju A, along new Bagamoyo Road, which started getting shorter shortly after 2pm.
The 'Daily News' also visited Kunduchi and Mtakuja Primary School polling station were queues of voters did not ease until mid-afternoon although more fresh voters started coming in to renew lines that were thought to be growing thinner then.
In Sumbawanga, over 200 irate people armed with traditional weapons invaded a vehicle laden with electoral items and burnt them into ashes, including 45 balloting boxes, alleging that the boxes had already been stuffed with cast ballots.
Confirming the incident, Rukwa Regional Police Commander (RPC), Jacob Mwaruanda told the 'Daily News' over the phone while on his way to the scene of incident that the incident occurred at Zimba Village, Lake Rukwa Basin, in Kwela Constituency, Sumbawanga District. According to the RPC, the incident occurred at 5:00 am, adding that no any casualties had been reported by then.
He, however, confirmed that about eight people have so far been arrested after being linked to the incident. "Yes it is true; the incident has truly happened now I'm on my way to the scene of incident ... the blazed electoral items including ballots papers were transported to Milepa Ward along Lake Rukwa Basin , Kwela Constituency, Sumbawanga District," added the RPC.
Narrating the murky incident, Mr Mwaruanda said that about 200 incensed a mob armed with machetes, clubs , stones and arrows blocked the road at Zimba Village by placing huge stones, barring a vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number T 865 BEU, loaded with election material; which they also burnt to ashes. According to the RPC, two assistant returning officers and a police officer were escorts aboard the vehicle.
He could not immediately mention their names. When contacted for comment, the Sumbawanga District Returning Officer, Mr Adam Missana, told this newspaper over the phone that the incident occurred at between 9pm and 10pm at Zimba Village when a huge mob armed with different traditional weapons invaded the vehicle and burnt all electoral material to ashes.
Mr Missana, who is also the Sumbawanga District Council Executive Director, confirmed that the irate mob blazed to ashes all election items, including balloting papers for the presidency, parliamentary candidates and councillorship posts and 45 ballot boxes among other items.
"Unfortunately, all items, including 45 ballot boxes, torches, lamps, pens and all ballot papers for presidential, parliamentary and councillorship candidates have been razed to ashes," added Mr Missana.
In Mwanza, a spot survey by the 'Daily News' in different street of the city witnessed a sharp decrease in traffic in almost all major roads, with reports saying that the situation was partially caused by fear of possibility of riots while others went to cast their polls.
Some new developments that were noted included the churches postponing the Sunday services to allow the faithful to get ample time to cast their votes as opposed to the previous exercises.
Meanwhile, reports from Chato Constituency have it that the presidential candidate, Dr John Magufuli, cast his vote at around 11am at Magufuli Primary School. According to the Chato Returning Officer, Mr Joel Ally, the exercise was equally conducted freely and peacefully with the possibility of announcing the results for new councillors and Member of Parliament (MP) by Monday.
"In Chato, we have recorded a very good turnout of voters and if the trend doesn't change, I will be in the position of announcing the results by Monday evening," said Mr Ally.
On the other hand, police in Mwanza have established a special desk that will be tasked to receive and handle all criminal reports related to the performance of the general election as Mwanza conducted the exercise peacefully. Mwanza Regional Police Commander (RPC), Charles Mkumbo noted that reports that reached him had it that almost all districts conducted the elections well; save for some minor incidents.
The desk will always monitor, evaluate and act instantly with criminal reports from all over the region in a bid to make the whole exercise as peacefully as possible. In Zanzibar, there was a big turnout at polling stations in as voters and candidates expressed hope for peace to continue prevailing even after the results. Community centres and schools reported large numbers of people turning out to vote.
Many polling stations started voting at 7 am on the dot as Zanzibar presidential candidate on the CCM ticket; Dr Ali Mohamed Shein and his wife, Mama Mwanamwema, were among the first people to cast their votes at Bungi School in Unguja Central District.
"I am pleased with the arrangement; the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) had made good preparations," Dr Shein said after casting his vote. He said he was confident of victory as he emphasised on peace and calling on losers to concede defeat so that Zanzibaris can move ahead.
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