NEC

By Friday Simbaya,
Iringa

ELECTION coordinators and returning officers have been called upon to make sure there is free and fair elections during the forthcoming general election in October this year hence peace and tranquility in the country.

Speaking on Friday during the two-day training workshop of regional election coordinators and returning officers, Mbeya Regional Commissioner, John Mwakipesile on behalf of the Iringa Regional Commissioner, Mohammed Abdullazizi, he said the that peace and tranquility must prevail during elections.

He noted if the election process will be tempered with by the people entrust to coordinate and supervise and make people having no good leaders, it means that peace will not it be there.

The symposium which was organized by National Election Commission (NEC), drawn participants from Ruvuma and Iringa (host) region, was meant to give training to regional election coordinators, returning officers and their assistants on the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary general election 2010.

He however urged the participants to make sure that they take election education to the people and make sure that they give right information by their rights towards the elections.

“Make that people give right election education and advise them to keep their voter cards until the day of election but not sell them to unscrupulous people so that they cannot participate during election,” he said.

Furthermore, he called upon the workshop participants to sensitize people to come in great numbers and election leaders that will help to bring change and development hence poverty reduction.

However, in 2005 elections, there was some irregularities which was pointed an accusing finger towards returning officers and other election officials about late delivery of election materials at the polling stations and also late vote counting.
Therefore, in this year election officials have been cautioned to adhere to NEC rules and regulations of the election process hence free and fair election and prevailing democracy.
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