By CEMOT
As the voting day draws closer, the campaign takes on a more daring and dramatic turn. Echoing a statement Freeman Mbowe, the CHADEMA chairperson made a few days earlier, Edward Lowassa, the UKAWA presidential candidate told supporters in a rally in Mbeya to guard their victory at the polls by keeping watch of the polling station after they cast their votes. This contravenes a directive given by H.E President Jakaya Kikwete, who issued a strong statement warning people against waiting for the election results at polling stations. He has ordered Tanzanians to vote and go home. NEC reiterated this directive by issuing a similar statement which bars anyone from hanging around polling centres after casting their vote in a bid to minimise the possibility of violence at stations.
These divisive statements have far reaching consequences. The public is conflicted by the need to heed the call of a candidate they might possibly support and that of the election and state authority. The two camps have to come to an agreement in a bid to avoid inciting violence. In a period of great tension and anticipation, it is important to take measures to establish clear practices of conduct for the electorate. In the midst of all the chaos that will ensue, just by the mere size of the election endeavour itself, calming public already heated sentiments and promoting security are equally critical.
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