By Our Correspondent
Preparations for updating the Permanent Voter Registry in the regions of Njombe, Rukwa, and parts of Ruvuma, including Nyasa, Mbinga District, Mbinga Town, Songea District, and Songea Municipality, have gained significant momentum. The process began with training sessions for regional officials tasked with overseeing the update exercise in these four regions.
The training was officially launched today, January 1, 2025, by the Chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Justice Jacobs Mwambegele.
His remarks were delivered through representatives in Songwe, Rukwa, Njombe, and Ruvuma.
In his message, Justice Mwambegele underscored the critical importance of safeguarding the registration equipment to ensure its availability for use in other regions that have yet to update their voter records.
He urged officials, including regional registration coordinators, registration officers, assistant registration officers at the constituency level, election officers, procurement officers, and IT officers, to exercise the utmost care in handling the equipment.
He warned that negligence could have serious consequences for the successful completion of this essential national exercise.
“It is vital that you carry out your duties with precision, particularly in maintaining the registration equipment.
These tools were acquired at great expense and are intended to support similar registration exercises in other parts of the country,” emphasized Justice Mwambegele.
Regarding the training, he explained that it focuses on proper form-filling procedures and the effective use of the Voter Registration System (VRS).
This training ensures participants acquire a comprehensive understanding of the system and the equipment needed for voter registration.
“This program prepares participants to train ward-level assistant registration officers, who will then train biometric device operators and assistant clerks responsible for voter registration at designated centers,” he elaborated.
Furthermore, IT officers will receive specialized training on troubleshooting technical issues that may arise during the voter registration process.
Earlier, participants observed a moment of silence in memory of the late Justice Mwanaisha Kwariko, a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission and Justice of the Court of Appeal, who recently passed away in India while undergoing medical treatment.