KAGERA: THE Director of Information and Voter Education under the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ms Giveness Aswile has called for concerted efforts from all stakeholders in realising that all targeted people upgrade their information in the Permanent Voters’ Register (PVR).
She made the remarks on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Bukoba Municipal attended by representatives from various political parties, Non-Governmental Organisations, religious leaders and journalists from different media outlets.
She explained that the PVR’s updating intends at ensure that people practice their fundamental right of voting as stipulated in Article 5 (1) of the Union Constitution of 1977, which offers an opportunity for all citizens aged 18 years and above to vote in elections in Tanzania.
“PVR upgrading is the critical step ahead of general election, taking into consideration that there is a large group of Tanzanians, who have attained the age criteria for casting votes after the last general election held in 2020,” she said.
She added: “It is from this background that the update exercise involves registration of new voters. PVR upgrading also allows previously registered voters to improve their voting information, altered by among other things, change in residential areas to new geographical voting territories.
The exercise also welcomes those who have lost their voting Identification Cards (IDs) to secure new ones and delete those who lack the qualification to remain in the register,” she hinted.
Ms Aswile explained that updating of the PVR in Kagera and Geita regions is scheduled to begin on August 6 lasting for seven days to August 11, 2024.
A total of 219,321 new voters are expected to be registered in Kagera region bringing the total number of voters in the PVR to 1,631,329 compared to 1,412,008 who were registered during the last exercise held in 2019/2020.
INEC has also increased the number of voting stations in Kagera region by introducing 101 new voting stations thus making the total number to be 1,778 compared to 1,677 voting stations recorded in the last exercise.
According to INEC, more than five million new voters across the country are expected to be registered in the PVR. After the update, the PVR is expected to have a total of 34, 746,638 voters.
A total of 5,586,633 new voters, equivalent to 18.7 per cent of 29,754,699 voters existing in the current register after the update made in 2019/2020, are expected to be added in the document, she stated.
Likewise, Ms Aswile added that as 4,369,531 voters are expected to update their information, at least 594,494 are anticipated to be deleted for not having the qualification to remain in the register.
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Elaborating, she said unlike the previous exercise, this year’s upgrading of the Permanent Voters’ Register (PVR) will use upgraded Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits for efficient execution of the project.
This year’s exercise will entail a total of 40,126 registration centres, with 39,709 located in Mainland Tanzania and 417 in Zanzibar.
In particular, she noted that eligible voters can now update their information on the PVR online following the introduction of the online Voters’ Registration System (VRS).
“Voters can now use their computers or mobile devices to change their polling stations if they have relocated to different regions or districts.
The VRS has been designed to align with the current design of Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) Kits that use Android software, unlike the previous BVR Kits that used Microsoft Windows software.
The improved kits, which are expected to be used during the exercise have been reduced in weight from 35 to 18 kilogrammes,” she noted.
Addressing a public rally at CCM Nelson Mandela Stadium in Sumbawanga District Council as she concluded her recent three-day working tour of Rukwa region, President Samia Suluhu Hassan called on Tanzanians to register or update their information in the Permanent Voters’ Register (PVR) and actively participate in the upcoming local government elections slated for later this year.
“I urge you all to register in the PVR and to participate actively in the voting process.,” President Samia stated.
The Head of State added that by participating in the exercise, the citizens will be granted the access to exercise their constitutional right of electing their leaders in the general election 2025.
PVR upgrading was launched over the weekend in Kigoma Region by the Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa, who urged all eligible citizens to update their voting information.
The updating exercise will be undertaken in 13 batches with the first batch encompassing three regions namely Kigoma, Tabora and Katavi followed by Kagera and Geita.
