Speaking on Monday, September 16, 2024, in Arusha, the Minister of State in the President’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Mohamed Mchengerwa, announced the boundaries of villages, streets, and hamlets that will participate in the upcoming local government elections scheduled for November 27, 2024. This was detailed under Government Notice number 769 of 2024.
The notice also reinstated the villages in Ngorongoro that had been dissolved under Government Notice number 673 of August 2, 2024.
“In these orders and notices, the total number of areas outlined includes 12,333 villages, 4,269 streets, and 64,274 hamlets. These areas are located within your administrative boundaries,” said Mchengerwa during a press conference.
“These areas, including those dissolved under Government Notices 673 and 674, such as Ngorongoro Division, are being reinstated to ensure proper administrative representation and access to social and economic services that meet the needs of residents,” Mchengerwa added.
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Accompanied by Arusha Regional Commissioner Paul Makonda, Mchengerwa urged Tanzanians to register on the voter list between October 11 and October 20, 2024, and to prepare to contest various positions in the election on November 27, 2024.
“The President’s Office, TAMISEMI, is well-prepared to ensure that this election is free and fair, following the 4R principles, as the President continues to emphasize. This process provides citizens an opportunity to directly participate in shaping the future development of their areas,” argued Mchengerwa.
The announcement follows a recent High Court ruling approving the application of three citizens to file a judicial review challenging the 2024 local government election process. The applicants argue that PO-RALG should leave election supervision to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Several stakeholders, particularly those monitoring developments in the contested Ngorongoro area, welcomed the news of reinstating the delisted villages.
On August 18, 2024, hundreds of Maasai community members protested against the denial of basic services and land rights in Ngorongoro, calling for the reinstatement of their villages, which had been dissolved under Government Notice No. 673. After the protests, the government agreed to restore social services to the affected residents.
