EU mission wants to see transparent, peaceful polls in Tanzania

The European Union (EU) election observation mission said on Wednesday that it will ensure that the forthcoming Tanzania elections are transparent and peaceful.

Judith Sargentini, the chief observer of the EU election observation mission, said her mission's mandate will be to observe all aspects of the electoral process and assess how the elections compile with Tanzanian laws.

"I hope that our presence will contribute to an inclusive, transparent and peaceful process for the benefit of Tanzanians," Sargentini said.

She added her team will use a number of assessment criteria during its observation, including the degree of impartiality shown by the election administration, the degree of freedom of political parties and candidates to assemble and express their views, the fairness of access to state resources during the election and the universal franchise afforded to voters.

The EU election observation team is currently made up of a core team of election experts based in Dar es Salaam as well as 34 long-term observers who are on the field across the country.

"From Mwanza to Lindi and all across the country our long term observers are now meeting with election officials, candidates and representatives of civil society. They will report their observations back to the core team in Dar es Salaam so that an informed and impartial assessment can be done," said Sargentini.

The mission will publish a preliminary statement shortly after the Election Day and a final report, including recommendations, approximately two months later, she said.

The government of Tanzania said last week that it expected between 400 and 600 international observers to join local observers to monitor the October 25 general elections.

Bernard Membe, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, told diplomats accredited to Tanzania that the observers will come from the United States, the EU, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and other developed countries.

Over 23 million Tanzanians out of a population of 46 million will go to polls on October 25 to elect the president, members of Parliament and councilors.

The presidential candidate for the ruling party-Chama Cha Mapinduzi, John Magufuli, is facing fierce competition from Edward Lowassa who is contesting on the ticket on leading opposition part-Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA).

CHADEMA is campaigning on a coalition of three other opposition parties of Civic United Front (CUF), National League for Democracy and NCCR-Mageuzi. Endit