Poll boss says Zanzibar electoral commissioners were partisan and even exchanged blows because of differences among them.
ZANZIBAR’s electoral commission on Wednesday annulled elections on the semi-autonomous Tanzanian archipelago citing “violations of electoral law”.
Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairman Jecha Salim Jecha, in a statement broadcast on public television, said the polls on the Indian Ocean archipelago were “nullified” and must be carried out again.
Jecha says he annulled the polls for violations including double-voting, vote tampering and cheating, at some polling stations, especially in Pemba island, the votes cast were more than the registered voters.
Jecha also said the vote had to be cancelled because some Zanzibar electoral commissioners were partisan and even exchanged blows because of differences among them, some party agents were thrown out of polling stations, and youths invaded polling stations “with the view of causing chaos.”
The main opposition alliance Ukawa, which fronted Edward Lowassa as its candidate, now says that since the poll has been nullified in Zanzibar, it should be nullified on the mainland as well as the total count is now in jeopardy. So far, the ruling party CCM’s candidate John Magufuli is maintaining a lead over Lowassa.
Lowassa said at a press conference in the main city Dar es Salaam Wednesday that the election was marred by fraud counting was rigged, and the results released by the electoral commission were null and void.
On Monday, Zanzibar’s main opposition presidential candidate declared himself the winner before the results were officially announced.
Seif Sharif Hamad from the opposition Civic United Front (CUF), the vice-president in the previous unity government, told reporters he had won Sunday’s polls, claiming to have seen official documents of final voting figures.
Security forces on Tuesday surrounded the islands’ main tallying and results centre, after Hamad repeated warnings that he, “will not concede defeat if robbed of my victory.”
Shots fired
Troops left the centre later Tuesday, but an AFP reporter in Zanzibar’s capital said shots were heard overnight, and that the streets were largely empty on Wednesday, with many shops closed and people saying they were fearful of going out.
Troops left the centre later Tuesday, but an AFP reporter in Zanzibar’s capital said shots were heard overnight, and that the streets were largely empty on Wednesday, with many shops closed and people saying they were fearful of going out.
Police on the Indian Ocean islands fired tear gas to break up crowds, while foreign embassies warned visitors to the popular tourist destination to avoid large crowds.
Zanzibar has experienced sectarian and political tensions in recent years—including several grenade explosions—with the unrest affecting the islands’ key tourist industry. There have also been wider tensions around Zanzibar’s union with the mainland, with some opposition political parties wanting to break ties and return to independence.
The long ruling CCM has vowed to maintain the status quo, but the CUF promises to campaign for full autonomy if it wins.
In mainland Tanzania, votes are being counted following Sunday’s presidential, general and local elections. Zanzibaris also voted for the national president.
http://mgafrica.com/article/2015-10-28-zanzibar-vote-annulled-in-tanzania-elections
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