The Minister of the President’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Mohamed Mchengerwa, has responded to complaints from opposition parties regarding the alleged mobilization of under-18 students for voter registration in various areas.
Several videos have surfaced on social media, shared by opposition parties, showing groups of students attempting to register as voters, sometimes leading to confrontations with opposition party members.
CHADEMA, an opposition party, through its spokesperson John Mrema, claimed in a press conference yesterday that they had observed or intervened in cases of under-18 students registering in locations such as Chato, Mlimba, Mwanza, and Bonyokwa in Dar es Salaam.
“These students have been coached and brought in by their teachers to register. When asked about their age, they say they were born in 2005 or 2006,” Mrema told the press.
He further urged parents to take action: “We urge parents to remember that these children will not be voting on November 27th, and they should not allow this manipulation. As a party, we are prepared to prevent underage voting. Parents must take precautions to protect their children from being used politically and stop CCM-affiliated teachers from registering underage children who are not of voting age.”
Mrema’s statement followed a similar call from ACT Wazalendo Secretary General Ado Shaibu, who on October 13, 2024, demanded a government response during a press conference on the ongoing voter registration process.
“It’s unacceptable that the election process is being tainted. People are saying under-18 students are being registered, yet the government remains silent,” Shaibu said.
In response, Minister Mchengerwa stated that while he had not been presented with concrete evidence, he had seen the complaints on social media.
“Anyone under the age of 18 is prohibited by law from registering. I want to make this clear, though I haven’t been shown any evidence,” Mchengerwa said.
He added: “We’ve seen these claims on social media, and when such information arises, it’s important to clarify. The President’s Office (TAMISEMI) emphasizes that election supervisors must ensure strict adherence to our regulations.”
Mchengerwa also addressed another concern raised by ACT Wazalendo regarding fake registration stations. He clarified that while there are 80,812 registration stations, the number of villages, streets, and hamlets is 68,543 due to some areas being large or having geographical barriers such as rivers or forests.
