Tanzania: Tendwa Warns Parties

Source from:  The Citizen (Dar es Salaam) 19 September 2008 09/22/2008

The registrar of political parties, Mr John Tendwa, yesterday warned political parties campaigning in the Tarime constituency by-election against lawlessness telling them to adhere to the country's election rules. He also called on voters to use their democratic right well and elect a candidate of their choice while maintaining peace. Speaking to reporters in Dar es Salaam, Mr Tendwa said he will not hesitate to take legal action against any party violating electoral rules and disrupting peace during the election campaigns. "All participating political parties involved in the Tarime by-election must obey election rules and regulations. Serious measures will be taken against all election violators," he warned. Mr Tendwa asked the police force to ensure there is security so that many voters turn up to fulfil their democratic right to elect a new MP. Meanwhile, the Chadema candidate in the Tarime by-election, Mr Charles Mwera, yesterday pledged that he will campaign for legalization of tobacco growing in Kurya district. "Tobacco growing is important in boosting the income of our people and I will tell the Government to allow it is so that Tarime residents benefit like other people in the country, " he said at campaign meetings in Gwitiryo and Getagasembe villages of Sirari ward. At the same time, the Mara regional CCM chairman, Mr Makongoro Nyerere, promised residents of Kitenga village in the nearby Pemba ward that he will ask the minister for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, Mr Stephen Wassira, to allow tobacco growing in the area, as the parties scrambled for the issue that appeared to concern many voters. The Government banned tobacco growing in Tarime early this year on the grounds that the cash crop will cause environmental degradation in the constituency, citing lack of firewood for curing. Mr Makongoro urged Kitenga residents to vote for the CCM parliamentary candidate, Mr Ryoba Kangoye. On his part, the CHADEMA secretary general, Dr Wilbroad Slaa, urged Tarime residents to keep their voting cards so that they use them to elect a candidate of their choice on October 12. Unconfirmed reports say there are people moving around and buying voting cards in areas where they are not sure of getting sufficient votes. Enditem