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Opposition Leader Expects Kikwete Re-Election in Tanzania

   Peter Clottey 01 November 2010
   Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, casts his vote at a poling station
   at his home village of Msoga in the Coast Region about 120 km north of
   the capital Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 31 Oct 2010

Photo: AP

   Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, casts his vote at a poling station
   at his home village of Msoga in the Coast Region about 120 km north of
   the capital Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 31 Oct 2010

   The leader of Tanzaniaâs parliamentary opposition told VOA indications
   on  the  ground point to the re-election of incumbent President Jakaya
   Kikwete, despite a stiff challenge from opponents in Sundayâs vote.

   Hamad  Rashid  said  the  financial  and  logistical advantages at the
   disposal  of  the  ruling  Chama  Cha  Mapinduzi  (CCM)  party made it
   difficult  for  the  opposition  to  effectively  compete  across  the
   country.

   âTaking  into account the area of Tanzania, (a) very huge country with
   14  million people (voters), you need 50,000 polling agents to oversee
   the  election,  which we donât have. You have to pay those people, and
   the only party which has such money or resources is the ruling party.â

   Rashid   also   criticized  the  electoral  commission  as  not  being
   independent to organize a credible vote.

   âWe  donât  have  very  much independence in the electoral commission.
   Here  in  Pemba,  they brought ballot papers without informing us as a
   result  we  found out that some of the ballot papers were missing here
   and  there.  So, these are the situations which we are facing,â Rashid
   said.

   Tanzanians are awaiting results from Sunday's presidential election in
   which President Kikwete ran for a second five-year term. The electoral
   commission  said Monday that vote counting is complete, but it has yet
   to release full election results.

   Partial   returns  indicate  that  Mr.  Kikwete  is  leading  his  six
   challengers. Observers said Sunday's voting went smoothly except for a
   few  polling  stations  opening  late  and some complaints about names
   missing from the voter list.

   But, Rashid predicted opposition gains in the vote.

   âAs  you remember, in the last session, we had only but one opposition
   (in  parliament). This time we are going to have more than 70 to 80, I
   think.  So,  I  think  the  challenge  (in  parliament)  will  be very
   effective and very strong. I have no doubt about that.â

   He  also  called  for  a  constitutional  amendment  on the funding of
   elections  he  insists  would  make  an  equal  playing  field for all
   political parties in future elections.

   There  were  reports  of  clashes between police and protesters in the
   city  of  Mwanza  and  in  the  capital,  Dar  es  Salaam. A Tanzanian
   newspaper, The Citizen, reports the fighting in Dar es Salaam was over
   a  disputed local council election. It says the fighting in Mwanza was
   over delayed election results.

   Tanzanians  also  voted  for  new  members  of parliament and regional
   assemblies on Sunday.

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