RUKWA: THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday began the registration and verification exercise for the Permanent Voter Register (PVR) across four regions: Rukwa, Songwe, Njombe and parts of Ruvuma.
This seven-day exercise, running from 12 to 18 January 2025, aims to register a total of 491,050 new voters. This initiative continues the voter registration update launched by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa in Kigoma on 20 July 2024.
The first phase covered regions such as Kigoma, Katavi, Tabora, Geita, Kagera, Mwanza, Shinyanga, Mara, Simiyu, Manyara, Singida and parts of Dodoma.
By 31 December 2024, INEC had completed PVR updates in 19 regions, including Zanzibar’s West Urban, Unguja South, Unguja North and Pemba South, as well as Arusha, Mbeya and Kilimanjaro.
At the Sumbawanga municipal hall, INEC Acting Chairperson Adam Juma Mkina called on Rukwa residents to turn out in large numbers.
Representing INEC Chairperson, Court of Appeal Judge Jacobs Mwambege, Mr Mkina emphasised the importance of registering for the 2025 general election.
“This exercise is unique because it includes the registration of prisoners who meet the legal conditions for voting, as per amended laws,” he noted.
Based on the 2022 Population and Housing Census, INEC estimates approximately 3,391,017 voters from the listed regions will be included in the PVR for the 2025 elections.
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INEC Acting Director of Elections, Mr Martin Ngenyelwa, stated that the figure might increase as some eligible citizens missed registration during the 2019/20 update. INEC anticipates that the national update will add over five million new voters, raising the total PVR to approximately 34,746,638.
Of these, 5,586,633 will be new voters, while 594,494 ineligible entries are expected to be removed. This year’s PVR update incorporates significant technological advancements. The introduction of lighter and more efficient Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits is expected to streamline the process.
Additionally, the new Voters’ Registration System (VRS) allows voters to update their information online, including polling station adjustments. The exercise will utilise 40,126 registration centres, with 39,709 on Mainland Tanzania and 417 in Zanzibar.
Acting PVR and ICT Director, Mr Innocent Cosmos, highlighted the ease of updating information online through the VRS, which aligns with the Android-based design of the upgraded BVR kits.
“Despite the system’s digitisation, the kits are now lighter, reduced from 35 to 18 kilograms,” Mr Cosmos added.
Addressing a public rally in July 2024 at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Sumbawanga, President Samia Suluhu Hassan urged citizens to register or update their PVR information and actively participate in the 2025 general elections.
“I urge you all to register in the PVR and actively participate in the voting process,” President Samia stated, emphasising that the exercise allows citizens to exercise their constitutional right to elect leaders.
The PVR upgrade, launched by Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa in Kigoma Region, will be conducted in 13 batches, beginning with Kigoma, Tabora and Katavi, followed by Kagera and Geita.