Voter registration in the Coastal Zone ended early this week. The exercise lasted for three weeks. Do you think the Tanzania Electoral Commission was right when allotting such a short time for an important exercise like this?

NO. I see no reason why the Commission has set such a short period of time considering this important and historic exercise. Actually I did not believe at first when the Commission said that it would not extend the period. It is well known that most Tanzanians are now in the private sector where they work for long hours. Hence the opportunity of registering was very short. I think the Commission is unfair on this.
Agnes B. Mwesha – Tailor.

NO. The Commission should have extended the registration period. This is because in Dar es Salaam alone there are more than three million people and apparently at least half of them are eligible to vote. The permanent voters’ register was introduced this year to spearhead fair and democratic elections. Its importance is immense, yet it was not given the importance it deserved. This is an exercise which not only concerns this and future elections but also gives someone a permanent identity card.
Nansonga Josephat – Statistician.

NO. The registration period to me was unnecessarily short, and I see no reason why the Commission had to set just three weeks for the exercise. I am of the opinion that such an exercise would have been carried out for more than two months. I see it as most important that all potential voters register. The Commission should have measured its success by the number of registered voters and not by the short registration deadline set. I think the voters have the right to register and that registering is also a democratic move.
Hassan Bashir - Businessman.

YES. I think it was necessary for the Commission to set a short deadline to ensure that it is only those eligible who register. Setting a longer period of time could have allowed some people who are not eligible to vote to go for registration. The longer the time the more time people might have looked for loopholes of registering, contrary to the regulations. I am sure the Commission did not just decide to fix the three weeks but carried out preliminary studies to make sure the appropriate period. I think we should not blame the period of time set.
Mussa Kingi – Plant Operator.

Compiled by Timothy Kitundu.