Mwanza, Shinyanga get 4, 257 BVR kits

TANZANIA: A TOTAL of 4,257 Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits have been distributed to Mwanza and Shinyanga regions for the Permanent Voter Register update, that started on Wednesday to August 27th this year.

Asina Omari, a High Court Judge and member of the Independent National Electoral Commission, announced this on Tuesday in Mwanza. She detailed that 3,590 of these BVR kits will be used at registration centres, with 667 reserved as backups.

“A total of 7,562 officials will participate in this voter registration exercise across Mwanza and Shinyanga regions.

This includes Regional Registration Coordinators, District Registration Officers, Assistant District Registration Officers, Ward Assistant Registration Officers, Biometric Device Operators and Assistant Data Entry Clerks,” she said.

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Omari also noted that based on the 2022 Population and Housing Census data, the commission aims to register 400,082 new voters in these two regions.

“In Shinyanga, we expect to register 209,951 new voters and in Mwanza, 190,131 new voters, bringing the total to 400,082 new voters,” she added.

She urged residents who are 18 years old, those who will turn 18 by the 2025 General Election and those needing to update their information, to register early and avoid waiting until the last day.

The update of the Permanent Voter Register commenced with a launch in Kigoma on July 20, 2024, marking the start of the first phase in Kigoma, Tabora and Katavi regions. The second phase will include the regions of Geita and Kagera.

During the registration period, voter registration centres will be open daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.