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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PCCB

By Friday Simbaya,
Iringa

AT LEAST four parliamentary aspirants in Iringa region have detected by the Prevention and Combuting Courruption Bureau[PCCB] over corruption implications against election expense act of 2010, it has been discovered.

The suspected aspirants including Joseph Mungai of Mufindi North Constituency, Fredrick Mwakalebela is vying the parliamentary seat in Iringa Urban Constituency and his wife, Norman Sigalla {DC Manyala District} for Makete Constituency and Fadhili Ngagilo for iringa urban.

According to the PCCB Iringa regional Commander Donasian Kessy, on 8th July 2010 he received telephone call from the residents of Ihalimba Ward in Mufindi North telling him that Mungai gave some money to CCM officials of 15 of them ranging from 2,000 to 20,000 shillings.

He said Mungai also promised to buy motorbikes to all CCM Ward secretaries, bicycles to all CCM branches and t-shirts all party members attended the meeting.
In that case the Mungai has been interrogated by PCCB and is out on bail hence the process of taking him to court is going on.

On Mwakalebela is part, on 16th June this year he announced his intention to contest for the Iringa Urban Constituency at Mkoga Village in Isakalilo ward, which was attende by 30 members and gave 100,000 to village chairman, which is against Election Expense Act 2010.

He gave 100,000 shillings to village chairman so that he gives to the people who attended the public meeting.

His wife Selina Mwakalebela gave 100,000 cash to Gwido Sanga so that his can be shared to all the participants.
Norman Sigalla was implicated in issusing of party cards to people through the headmaster at Iwawa Secondary School, Forden Madyedye in Makete District to total 36 members.

Fadhili Ngagilo UVCCM Chairman for Iringa, was implicated in the corruption act by bribing villagers at Mgongo in Nduli Ward Iringa Muncipality with 30,000 so that they can vote for him during the nomination polls within the CCM.

Ngagilo at one time he also promised villagers to buy them minibus if will be elected during the nomination polls.
However, the process of taking all the culprits to court of law is going on.
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