Judges, magistrates get crucial training on electoral dispute resolution
DAR ES SALAAM: THE Institute of Judicial Administration Lushoto (IJA) is conducting special training for judges and magistrates on Electoral Dispute Resolution (EDR) in preparation for the November 2024 Local Government Elections and the October 2025 General Elections.
During the opening of the three-day training session in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, IJA Principal Dr Paul Kihwelo said the initiative was important in enhancing the judiciary’s capacity to manage electoral disputes with transparency, fairness, efficiency and timeliness.
“As we know, the judiciary plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process. It is essential that judicial officers uphold democratic values while adjudicating electoral disputes,” Dr Kihwelo, who is also a Justice of the Court of Appeal of Tanzania, stated.
He said the seriousness of the training was reflected in the careful selection of participants, chosen for their extensive experience in adjudication and their ability to share knowledge with others.
Dr Kihwelo expressed gratitude to the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for their invaluable support.
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He noted that their technical and financial contributions have been instrumental in strengthening electoral processes through capacity building for judicial officers.
He recounted those discussions with IFES began in September 2023, aiming to enhance the skills of judicial officers in electoral dispute resolution. This collaboration was solidified with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on October 16, 2023, which laid the groundwork for developing training materials, including the EDR Curriculum and facilitators’ guides.
Over the next three days, participants will engage with specially designed materials covering core topics, including principles of democratic governance, the legal framework governing elections, pre- and post-election dispute resolution procedures and handling electoral offences.
Additional modules will focus on judgment writing, ethical considerations during elections and the use of modern technologies, such as electronic evidence in election cases.
USAID Director for Democracy, Rights and Governance, Mr Bret Saalwaechter said that the training aims to provide judges and magistrates with tools and perspectives needed to navigate the complexities of electoral disputes with impartiality and integrity.
“The challenges you face in electoral cases are often multifaceted, involving legal, technical and sometimes political considerations. Yet, as arbiters of justice, you are called to rise above these complexities and ensure justice is served and all voices are heard,” he stated.
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Mr Saalwaechter expressed hope that the training would help participants fine-tune and share the skills necessary to fulfil their vital role in Tanzania’s judicial process for resolving electoral disputes.
The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) is a globally recognised non-profit organisation dedicated to strengthening democratic governance through technical assistance and research on the electoral cycle.
In Tanzania, IFES has partnered with IJA to bolster the country’s capacity in managing electoral disputes, focusing on EDR to enhance the skills of justices and judicial officers in handling these matters efficiently and in alignment with democratic principles and human rights.
