Tanzania Mainland is preparing for local government
elections on November 27, 2024.
Minister of State in the President’s Office for Regional
Administration and Local Government (PO-RALGA), Mohammed Mchengerwa, announced
the election date on Thursday in Dodoma.
During the announcement, he also launched the official
election logo, which will be used in both the 2024 local elections and the 2025
general elections.
Voting will start at 8:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. on
Election Day. The election will include voting for village chairpersons,
members of village councils, street chairpersons, members of street committees,
and hamlet chairpersons.
"Campaigns will run for seven days leading up to the
election," Minister Mchengerwa explained the election timeline.
Political parties must submit their campaign schedules to
the election supervisor at least seven days before the campaigns begin.
Candidates who want to run for office must collect
nomination forms 26 days before the election and return them within seven days.
They must be registered members of the political party they
wish to represent.
"Objections to nominated candidates can be filed within
two days after the nomination," Mchengerwa said, adding that responses to
these objections must be given within the following two days.
A total of nineteen political parties, including CCM, CUF,
CHADEMA, and TLP, are expected to field candidates.
Voter turnout will be an important factor in the elections.
Local government elections in Tanzania usually have lower
turnout than general elections, with past turnout rates around 50-60%. The
level of political engagement and confidence in the electoral process will
influence this year’s turnout.
Minister Mchengerwa expressed hope that the new election
logo and the ongoing preparations will encourage more people to vote.
"We are committed to ensuring a smooth and transparent
election process," he said.
As Election Day approaches, the nation will be watching the
campaigns and the voter turnout, which will reflect the people's involvement in
their local government and their trust in democracy.