Dar es Salaam. Tanzanians on the Mainland will go to the poll on November 27, 2024, to vote for local government representatives, according to the announcement that the Minister of State in the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Mohammed Mchengerwa, made Thursday.
Mr Mchengerwa announced during a meeting in the capital, Dodoma, that eligible voters will have the opportunity to vote for street, village, and hamlet chairpersons and members of their respective consultative councils in elections that aim to transfer power to the people.
“I announce here today to all Tanzanians, leaders of all political parties with permanent registration, that November 27, 2024, will be a local government elections day throughout Tanzania Mainland,” Mr Mchengerwa announced. “Voting will commence at 8:00 am and conclude at 4:00 pm.”
The announcement comes as some opposition parties have raised concerns over the authorities overseeing the elections. ACT-Wazalendo, for example, demands that the civic elections be overseen by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the recently passed law dictates instead of PO-RALG.
The party, which has threatened to boycott the elections, cited massive irregularities in the by-elections organised in 22 wards across the country on March 20, 2024, when dozens of its candidates were disqualified, alongside many other malpractices, like the seizure of fake ballots and arbitrary attacks against party members and candidates.
The main opposition party, CHADEMA, also objects to PO-RALG overseeing the elections, noting that the 2019 experience, when thousands of opposition candidates were questionably disqualified from that year’s local government elections, shows that the ministry cannot ensure fairness during the exercises.
Massive and irreparable irregularities forced CHADEMA to boycott the 2019 civic elections, leaving the ruling Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) to “win” many villages and streets.
However, from Thursday’s announcement by Mr Mchengerwa, the same disdained PO-RALG seems to oversee the elections that provide people with representatives who will decide on issues very close to them, such as land and marriages, to name but a few.
“We appeal to all citizens to participate in these elections as voters and candidates so that we can get leaders and contribute to the development of our country,” Mr Mchengrwa announced.
According to the timetable that Mr Mchengerwa shared on Thursday, the following is how the exercise will go:
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On August 15, the government announces the date for the local government elections, with the provision of voters’ education starting effectively on August 16. Between August 16 and September 17, those interested in observing the elections will apply for certification.
The government will release the names and boundaries of the villages, hamlets, and streets within which the elections will occur on September 16, 2024. Returning officers and assistant returning officers will be appointed between September 19 and September 25.
The government will publish explanations regarding the election on September 26. On October 6, a seminar for returning officers and assistant returning officers will be organised. Between October 6 and October 8, oaths will be administered to voter registrars, returning officers, and assistant returning officers.
Voter registration will occur between October 11 and 20, and the voters’ list will be shared on October 21, 2024. The list will be inspected between October 21 and 27, concurrently with objections to voter registration. Decisions on objections will be made on October 27 and 28, and changes will co-occur.
Appeals will occur between October 28 and October 29, and a ruling will be made between October 28 and October 31, the day the incumbents’ reign will be over. Candidates will start collecting electoral forms on November 1 and must return them between November 1 and November 7.
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The appellant committee will be appointed on November 1, and a seminar for committee members will follow on November 4. Candidates’ appointments will be made on November 8. Objections will be heard between November 8 and November 9, and decisions on objections will be made between November 8 and November 10.
The appellant committee will make its decisions between November 10 and November 13. On November 14, parties will share their campaign rallies’ timetables. On November 17, they will submit these timetables to their respective officer commanding district (OCD) of police.
The parties will commence their campaigns on November 20 and conclude on November 26. Elections will occur on November 26, 2024.
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