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Lake Zone sees huge turnout in PVR update exercise

RESIDENTS of Mwanza and Shinyanga regions have continued to turn out in their numbers to register and update their details in in the Permanent Voter Register (PVR).

MWANZA: RESIDENTS of Mwanza and Shinyanga regions have continued to turn out in their numbers to register and update their details in in the Permanent Voter Register (PVR).

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is targeting the registration of 400,082 new voters in the PVR across two Lake Zone regions: Mwanza and Shinyanga.

In Mwanza, the goal is to register 190,131 new voters, while Shinyanga is expected to add 209,951 new voters. The registration and verification process, which began on Wednesday, is proceeding as planned, with positive responses from citizens.

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On the first day of the updating exercise in Mwanza Region, INEC member and High Court Judge Asina Omari encouraged residents to participate actively in the process. She emphasised that updating and verifying their information will ensure they can exercise their right to vote in next year’s general election.

Judge Omari also urged citizens to make use of the time provided by the commission to complete their updates before the deadline of August 27 this year.

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She noted that INEC is prioritising various groups, including people with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers who visit the centers with their babies.

INEC anticipates registering more than five million new voters nationwide.

In an interview with the ‘Daily News’, Mwanza City Council Election Officer Fransisca Francis encouraged eligible citizens, particularly those aged 18 and above, to register. Mwanza region has 317 registration centers, with 316 currently operational. One center, located at the Prison Office, will conduct registration in a subsequent phase.

“The verification and registration process is progressing well. People are turning out, and we have addressed minor challenges as they arise,” Francis explained.

Mr Prudence Sempa, Secretary for Ideology, Publicity, and Politics of the ruling party CCM in Mwanza Region, highlighted the importance of this registration exercise.

“We view this improvement as crucial, representing 70-100 per cent of the election process. I urge Mwanza City residents to participate in large numbers at the polling stations to verify and update their information so they can be eligible to vote,” Sempa said.

Mwanza region’s Civic United Front (CUF) Secretary Mr Idi Kiula reported that the registration process is running smoothly. He visited centers in Mkuyuni, Ninja Street, Pamba, and Mirongo, noting that most individuals seeking to update their information are those who have relocated or lost their cards.

“The exercise is progressing well,” Kiula stated.

James Johnes, a representative from Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) at the Mwanza Secondary School registration center, also praised the registration process and encouraged citizens to participate in large numbers to ensure they can vote in the upcoming elections.