The EAC Election Observation Mission (EOM) to the General Elections in Tanzania on October 25 has issued a statement questioning the nullification of the polls on Zanzibar Island.
‘The Mission, notes with concern the Statement issued by the Chairman of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission, nullifying the Zanzibar elections. The Mission urges the political leadership of the United Republic of Tanzania to urgently address this situation for the sake of democracy and stability of the country,’ EOM leader Arthur Moody Awori, wrote on October 29.
According to Mr Awori, the observer team deployed in all regions of the United Republic of Tanzania, and was satisfied with the electoral processes.
‘The Mission observed voting and counting of votes and the Mission’s overall assessment of the process at polling stations was that it was peaceful and transparent up to the polling and counting processes,’ the statement signed by the EOM leader Awori states in part.
According to Awori, on October 27 his team issued a preliminary statement on the general elections on, indicating that it would ‘continue to follow the electoral process to its conclusion’.
Meanwhile, the ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi candidate John Pombe Magufuli has been declared winner of the October 25 presidential elections after beating resilient rival Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA’s) Edward Lowassa, a former Prime Minister who decamped to the opposition, following allegations of corruption against him.
Mr Lowassa has since rejected the outcome of the elections, saying the polls were rigged in Mr Magufuli’s favour.
