DAR ES SALAAM, Feb 20 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — TANZANIA has formally welcomed foreign election observers and monitors for the forthcoming general elections scheduled for October, this year.
“It is our custom to allow all interested parties to monitor our elections in good spirit and determine whether the exercise (elections) is free and fair,” the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Mr Bernard Membe, said.
“We have nothing to hide and all along we have been inviting both local and foreign observers to witness the electoral process and give their comments and recommendations,” the minister said at a meeting with diplomats in Dar es Salaam.
The minister told the diplomats that all donations in support to political parties or candidates for the forthcoming elections sourced abroad must be disclosed and accounted for.
He, however, said the donors would not be allowed to give their support to political parties and candidates after dissolution of the Parliament later in July or early August.
“We are doing this out of best practice learned from other countries including those you are representing here on the need for disciplined and orderly election financing,” the minister noted.
Mr Membe was referring to the Election Expenses Bill of 2009 recently passed by the National Assembly, which among other things, aims at checking abuse, graft and keeping “dirty” money away from the electoral process.
He said the move was designed to give more credibility to the country’s electoral process.
Meanwhile, the minister said relevant authorities in Zanzibar were preparing documents to be used in the referendum on the government of national unity that is expected to be set up there.
“It has been left to the lawyers in Zanzibar to design the modalities of the referendum in the spirit of Butiama Resolution,” he said.
CCM National Executive Committee (NEC) endorsed formation of the government of national unity in Zanzibar at its meeting in Butiama in 2008.
Mr Membe said top three posts in the government of national unity will be composed of the president from the winning party, the first vice-president from the official opposition and the second vice- president from the winning party. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
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