KIGOMA: THE exercise of updating the Permanent Voters’ Register (PVR) is geared towards enhancing development of democracy in the country with the authorities insisting that every eligible citizen to take part in the exercise.
PVR upgrading was launched over the weekend in Kigoma Region by the Prime Minister, Mr Kassim Majaliwa, who urged all eligible citizens to update their voting information.
The upgrading exercise will be undertaken in 13 batches with the first scheduled to encompass three regions namely Kigoma, Tabora and Katavi, followed by Mwanza and Shinyanga. Later on, the exercise will extend to Mara and Simiyu and some part of Manyara.
Mr Majaliwa noted the PVR’s updating intends at ensuring 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 with 18 years and above to vote in any election in Tanzania.
“PVR’s updating is the critical step ahead of country’s civic polls later this year and general election in 2025, by referring to the fact that there is a large group of Tanzanians, who have attained the age criteria for casting vote after the last general election,” Mr Majaliwa said.
It is from this ground that the update exercise involves registration of new voters.
Mr Majaliwa said that 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 territory.
More significantly, Mr Majaliwa said the exercise welcomes those who have lost their voting Identification Cards (IDs) to secure new ones.
He said according to 2022 Census results; over five million new voters will be registered including those who have attained 18 years.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least four million voters are expected to update their information.
“I urge all voters who want to update their information to not hesitate to do so as INEC has prepared to serve all eligible citizens,” Mr Majaliwa said.
He urged for concerted efforts from all citizens, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), political parties, prison service and training college, media outlets in realising that all targeted people upgrade their information.
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Under the ruling party CCM’s Election Manifesto 2020/2025, the sixth-phase government is continuing to strengthen democracy, good governance and human rights and the fight against petty and grand corruption, as well as all forms of abuse.
And, promoting citizens participation in elections to fulfil their democratic right is among the key priorities of the government. Responsibility of every eligible citizen to participate in voting Mr Majaliwa said every Tanzanian should participate in the exercise.
“Citizens are the first supervisors to ensure all people who registered in the PVR are Tanzanians. Let us be patriotic,” he said.
Tanzania Prisons service, training college and Immigration He said in the incoming local government election and general election, prisoners under six-month jail term, remandees and citizens at training colleges are allowed to vote.
In that regard, the prisons service and training colleges both in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar are obliged to put in place required infrastructures for smooth undertaking of the PVR’s upgrading.
On the other hand, the Immigration should provide education to citizens on how to identify nonTanzanians in efforts to ensure all who are registered are nationals.
Political responsibility
The Prime Minister, Mr Kassim Majaliwa called upon all political parties to ensure their agents come from their relevant streets and villages, so that they easily identify eligible voters.
Political Parties’ agents
He said they have a noble responsibility of identifying eligible voters at the PVR’s upgradig centres.
Administrators selected by INEC Mr Majaliwa directed all executives who have been selected by the electoral body to supervise the upgrading process at regional, constituency, ward, registration centres to observe integrity and patriotism by not allowing any ineligible people to be included.
He also urged them to work hard and use polite language during service delivering.
NGOs
He urged all approved NGOs which have been given a permit for providing education on PVR to make sure citizens are famirialised with the procedures of updating their information.
He also urged them to abstain from adding topics beyond the agreements
Media outlets
Mr Majaliwa called on all mass media including news papers, radio and television to remind all stakeholders on the guidelines for PVR’s updating in line with election laws and regulations.
In another development, he said President Samia Suluhu Hassan is committed to ensuring that the country conducts a free and fair election.
For his part, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office (Policy, Parliamentary Affairs and Coordination), Ms Ummy Nderiananga said the PVR’s upgrading process aligns with President Dr Samia’s 4Rs which stand for Resilience, Rebuilding, Reform and Reconciliation.
“INEC has engaged various stakeholders and groups including political parties, faith leaders, special groups such as youths, women and people with disabilities in order to ensure the entire process is participatory,” Ms Nderiandaga said.
INEC’s Chairperson, Judge Jacobs Mwambegele said there is a total of 40,126 centres for the PVR’s updating exercise, out of which, 39,709 centres are for the Tanzania Mainland, while 417 others for Zanzibar.
He noted in the 2024/2025 Financial Year, almost 2,312 new centres have been increased in comparison to only 37,814 centres used to register voters in the 2019/2020 FY.
Commenting on the progress of the PVR’s upgrading exercise, lawyer cum political analyst, Mr Yonah Mapury based in Mwanza appreciated INEC for ensuring the updating process including its inauguration observe transparency and inclusivity.
Mr Mapury expounded that transparency instills confidence to all eligible citizens to update their voting information without doubts and conflicts of unknown regardless of their political parties.
“Our country is implementing the democratic and constitutional requirement, by upgrading the PVR, the government protects the citizens’ right of being voted or to vote for their leaders,” he said.
