As we hit 10 days before the Election Day on Sunday 25, October, things are heating at great pace. This time around the question is who guards the vote after being cast and assure the counting and announcing of results are reliable.
Addressing youth at the climax of Uhuru Torch Race and the commemoration of youth week and the 16th Mwalimu Julius Nyerere memorial in Dodoma, President Jakaya Kikwete was quoted by media issuing a warning to youth and political parties to not try to gather around polling centres as doing so may instigate breach of peace.
The president went on to say, the government was well prepared to deal with anyone who will go against NEC directive which requires voters not to stay at the polling stations after casting their votes and instead they should go straight to their homes, otherwise the strong hand will fall on them.
No sooner had the head of state issued the warning than the opposition leader insisted their stand that they will guard their vote. The CHADEMA chairman, Mr Freeman Mbowe was quoted by media insisting that stance when addressing a rally in Lake Zone saying the warning raised suspicion. He went on to allege NEC and the government that, they were prepared to favour the ruling party. And that was the motive behind the issued warning.
NEC and the head of state stood on ground that each political party is required by section 57, (1) and section 72(2) of the National Election Act cap 343 of 2010, to appoint a polling agent for each polling station, the party appointee has obligation to overlook the interest of his party, in other words s/he will guard the votes and results, the section also bars any person from being around the polling station.
However, the opposition have been consistent that the law allows them to be around the area, and that they will guard their votes. “This is blatant disregard of the laws. Electoral laws allow us to stay 200 metres from polling centres. No one, not even President Kikwete and CCM can take this right away from us.” The citizen of Thursday 15, 2015 quotes of Mr Mbowe.
Generally, the debate has resulted to a mixed reaction from citizens whereby some are supporting the warning of the president and NEC, and others supporting the opposition’s stance on guarding their votes after they have cast to avoid any malicious plan of vote rigging and trickery for which the government and NEC are accused.
In that regard there is a need to settle this issue before the Election Day; otherwise, there will be a total confusion because voters will be divided into two contentious camps. There will a camp of those who will heed to the call of NEC and there will be those who will heed to the call of the opposition leaders. In the end, people will suffer because of being locked into this political stalemate.
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