TANZANIA: Tanzania Episcopal Conference Issues Local Government Elections Statement
president of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) Rt. Rev. Wolfgang Pisa OFM Cap
Sarah Pelaji
The Tanzania Episcopal Conference has issued a statement regarding local government elections which is to be held on November 27th, 2024, calling for free and fair election.
Tanzanians on the mainland will go to the poll on November 27, 2024, to vote for local government representatives, according to the announcement that the Minister of State in the President’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Mohammed Mchengerwa.
Issuing the press statement on 15th November 2024, the president of Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) Rt. Rev. Wolfgang Pisa OFM Cap stated that the Catholic Bishops appreciate Tanzanians solidarity and desire to govern themselves (Rom13:1-7).
“As we are approaching the election, we your spiritual leaders of the Catholic Church join with Tanzanians in choosing local government leaders through free and fair elections. We are aware that the government is formed with the main goal to bring development to the people to have a better life where each group is determined to see that the dignity of each person is respected, protected and developed,” Bishop Pisa stated.
According to Article 21 of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, 1977, every citizen has the right and duty to participate in public activities if there is an election. And according to Article 146 (1) of the same, the goal of local governments is to transfer power to the people.
“Real development belongs to the people and is brought about by the people. People must be the source and goal of development. People are the ones who have the authority and decisions for their development,” reads the statement.
According to the statement, TEC has witnessed how the entire voters registration exercise for 2024 was conducted carelessly, including the non-issue of voter identification cards, followed by open and undisguised favouritism by the executives, at the expense of opposition parties. This has left a big stain in the nation.
Therefore, TEC emphasizes that the only respectable election is the one conducted based on freedom, justice, transparency, neutrality. An election that respects the supremacy of the people’s authority over their elected leaders. TAMISEMI should ensure that the entire voting exercise follows democratic principles and that only those who won legally will be announced.
The Catholic bishops emphasize that election supervisors must coordinate the election based on justice and not favor any party in any way. Violation of the wishes of the people leads to having leaders who are not the people’s choice, and that a leader who is found in power, with lies causes distrust by violating the principles of democracy.
“Let’s not build a fraud society, let’s build a nation that is brought up in the truth and works in the truth. Our God never deceive, He is never deceived, and He would like us His people to live based on justice and truth. Let’s continue to build people in a clean and fair conscience, who can say this is a lie, let’s leave it and this is the truth, let’s follow it,” He insisted on behalf of TEC.
TEC urges the people to participate in large numbers to vote on November 27, 2024, as announced by the government.
The bishops request the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government, (TAMISEMI) which is a government institution in Tanzania that facilitate administrative operations in local government ensure that democracy reigns in the country and send a message to the whole world that Tanzania is still an island of peace.
