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Preparations for Zanzibar's repeat polls are complete: electoral body

Xinhua, March 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) said on Saturday that preparations for repeat polls on Sunday in the east African archipelago were complete as nine out of 14 opposition parties said they will not participate.

Zanzibaris were expected to vote for the president, members of the House of Representatives and councilors.

"We are doing each and everything in our powers to ensure the election is held in free and fair environment," said ZEC chairman, Jecha Salim Jecha.

Over 500,000 voters cast their ballot in the last October 25,2015 elections which were later nullified by ZEC, citing massive irregularities.

Jecha said a number of both local and international observer missions have arrived in Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania in East Africa, and will be overseeing the polls.

He said the observers included the African Union, the East African Community and the Electoral Commission Forum of the Southern Africa Development Community.

"I call on Zanzibaris to go out and vote in peace, and must at all times follow the directives from ZEC officers. Our directives are aimed at ensuring that there's peace and order during the voting and tallying process," said Jecha.

Security situation was tense as businesses closed as early as 8pm on Friday, leaving most of the streets empty.

On Friday police authorities in Zanzibar said they have beefed up security ahead of Sunday's re-run elections.

In the run up to the repeat elections, there have been claims of massive use of force by police against civilians but the police have denied these claims.

"We will ensure that the polls are held peacefully. Police officers will provide escort to those wishing to go out and vote if need be," said Urban West Region police commander, Mkadam Khamis Mkadam.

Mkadam said there will be different kinds of police patrols throughout the day as the current situation demanded.

He said the patrols will involve officers on foot, on motorcycles and others in vehicles, adding that police will also be stationed inside polling stations and within 200 meters from the stations.

Police said on Wednesday that at least 42 suspects were arrested in Zanzibar in connection with Monday night's bomb blast which destroyed the house of Zanzibar police chief Hamdan Omar Makame ahead of re-run polls.

Zanzibar has been thrown into a political turmoil since the results of the October 25, 2015 polls were annulled by the Chairman of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC), Jecha Salum Jecha citing massive irregularities especially in Pemba. He later announced re-run polls scheduled for March 20. Endit