CUF: Press Release - Oct 28, 2005
ZEC, Security Forces Conspiring to Rig Election
THE CIVIC UNITED FRONT (CUF- CHAMA CHA WANANCHI)
PRESS RELEASE
Friday, October 28, 2005
Contact: Salim Bimani 0747 414112
ZEC, SECURITY FORCES CONSPIRING TO RIG ELECTION
Zanzibar has witnessed two stolen elections before in 1995 and 2000, as well as excessive force on behalf of the security forces resulting in the deaths of over 40 people in 2001.
There are many signs that similar plans are afoot this time. CUF has reason to believe that the governments of Zanzibar and Tanzania are planning to rig or to spoil the election in Zanzibar using the security forces. We would like to bring recent activities to the attention of the press and to demand action from the governments and from the Zanzibar Electoral Commission to ensure that the elections are peaceful, free and fair.
ARMY INVOLVEMENT
Yesterday, CUF was informed by ZEC that the Union Army (Tanzania People's Defence Force) has been given the authority to not only distribute voting materials to polling stations but also to supervise the collection of the results and ballot papers from the polls. The use of the Army to distribute ballot materials is not ideal but we do not oppose it, however, CUF cannot accept the use of the Army to collect ballot materials, and in particular ballot papers and results forms from polling stations. This is contrary to democratic procedures and in the context of Zanzibar's electoral history, it is very worrying.
There are 2,700 army and 100 special forces on Pemba and 4,500 Army with 165 special forces on Unguja who have been brought here with heavy equipment. We fear they have been brought here for the purpose of interfering in the election, and ZEC's close co-operation with the Army would appear to bear that out. There is no logistical reason for the Army to be involved at all.
CUF calls on President Mkapa, the Commander in Chief, to make sure that the election remains a civilian exercise apart from the necessary co-operation of the police. CUF calls on the Army to respect democratic principles and procedures and to remain in its barracks until people have chosen their leaders.
ZEC's DELIBERATE INCOMPETENCE
Secondly, CUF has learned that the National Intelligence Service (Usalama wa Taifa) are closely involved with ZEC and that NIS officers are working with Returning Officers at the regional and district level. In particular, we believe that NIS has been involved in the hiring of junior polling staff (Polling Officers, Polling Clerks and Polling Assistants), many of whom do not meet the minimum educational and literacy requirements.
These junior staff have been receiving training in seminars in recent days which is unsatisfactory. They are not fully briefed on the proper laws and procedures to the extent that in the seminars they are being taught to break the law.
The National Governing Council of CUF met to discuss this last night and now calls on ZEC to make a public statement on state television and radio explaining the responsibilities and duties of polling staff and agents so that there is no confusion as to their role and the interpretation of the law.
In particular, ZEC should make a public statement:
1. to clarify the position of people whose names do not appear in the Permanent Voters Register
2. to affirm the right of agents to investigate suspicious practices in the polling station, including to investigate impersonation of a voter (electoral law para 64, clause 2)
2. to affirm the right of each candidate to appoint an agent
3. to affirm the right of each party to attach its seal to ballot boxes
4. to affirm the requirement that forms for Presidential results should be present before voting starts and the right of each party to be given a copy of the signed Presidential results form in the polling station, after results have been agreed, and the requirement that the forms should be posted on the wall outside the polling stations afterwards
5. to repudiate the role of the army in collecting ballot papers and results
CUF reaffirms the position of the National Governing Council that it will not accept any result which is not based on a free and fair process and reaffirms the belief of the party that it is our constitutional right to demonstrate peacefully if the democratic wishes of the Zanzibari people are suppressed.
Thank You
Professor Ibrahim Lipumba, Chairman and Union Presidential Candidate
Maalim Seif Sharif Hamad, Secretary General and Zanzibar Presidential Candidate
NB: PICT0001: Professor Lipumba is talking to the media community
PICT0004: Seif Sharif Hamad is answering the questions from the journalists
Directorate of Information and Policy Dissemination
The Civic United Front (CUF)
Party Headquarters
P.O. Box 3637
Zanzibar
Tanzania
Tel. (+)255 (0)747 414100 / (+)255 (0)741 257 665
E-mail: cufhabari@yahoo.com
Website: www.cuftz.org