Africa-Press – Tanzania. PRESIDENT Hussein Mwinyi has commended the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) Executives and all electoral stakeholders for the successful General Election in October last year.
Dr Mwinyi won the presidential post and his party winning majority seats in both House of Representatives and Union Parliament.
Dr Mwinyi made the remarks on Tuesday after the ZEC Chairperson, Retired Judge Hamid Mahmoud Hamid, presented to him the report of the 2020 General Election held on October 28, 2020.
At least 19 political parties contested in the election, electing the Union President,President of Zanzibar, Members of the House of Representatives and Councilors.
President explained that ZEC deserves being commended and all election stakeholders including the Defense and Security Forces, Civil Society Organisations as well as all citizens for taking part in the elections including maintaining peace and stability.
“I take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the Zanzibar Electoral Commission and all electoral stakeholders for the peaceful exercise. The government will spare no efforts in addressing the challenges recorded during the election, so that future elections are better,” Dr Mwinyi said.
He emphasised that significant progress had been made in the exercise due to the Commission’s timely use of the new ICT enrollment system, and submitting of the report, stressing that concerted efforts will be made by the government to ensure that future elections are better than the past.
The ZEC chairperson handed over to President Dr Mwinyi the report and explained to him that the report is divided into seven section/chapters with the entire election cycle, including the situation before the election, during the election and after the election.
Mr Hamid expressed his sincere gratitude to the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar for being able to fund the 2020 Zanzibar General Elections, one hundred percent of all election expenses and all the funds received on time.
He said it was the government’s move that enabled the Electoral Commission to conduct and administer the elections more effectively, and also thanked all politicians who contested for various leadership positions in the 2020 General Elections, justified as free and fair election.
Judge Hamid also informed President that the 2020 General Election were held as planned without irregularities that could lead to the re-run or protesting of the results. He said ‘early elections were held for the first time and made it easier for the ZEC staff and security.
The Chairman also briefed Dr Mwinyi that the Commission has been able to print the votes used in the General Election here in Zanzibar and for the first time, also in the history of Zanzibar, the Commission has been able to complete the counting of votes and announce the election results within 24 hours after the voting exercise was completed.
In accordance with section 27 of the Act to establish the Office of the Electoral Commission No. 1 of 2017, each time the General Election is completed, the Zanzibar Electoral Commission is required to prepare a report and submit it to the President within 12 months.
