The EU increased the mission compared to the 2010 general election when 68 observers were deployed to oversee election operations.
“The observers aim to deepen the relationship through comprehensive observation of all phases of the electoral process to steadily enhance its universality, transparency and credibility,” said EU Ambassador Filiberto Ceriani Sebregondi.
Sebregondi was signing a document for the observers with the Permanent Secretary, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ms Liberata Mulamula.
“But the observers will be responsible to look for the implementation of the last recommendations they provided to the government in which one of them was establishment of independent electoral commission,” added EU Ambassador.Sebregondi said EU deploys such missions in countries that are considered important mature partners with a good democratic record.
According to him, the recommendations were meaningful as they reflected the same demands by majority of Tanzanians; hence they should not be ignored.
He added that the Chief Observer will be a member of the European Parliament to be appointed shortly by the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini.
He noted that since 2009, when the Council adopted its conclusions on Democracy Support in the EU’s external relations, the union has stepped up efforts to support democracy in a more coherent manner through development assistance programmes with their partner countries.
Permanent Secretary Ms Mulamula affirmed we welcome election observers who will observe election in strict adherence to the international agreed code of conduct and without interference.
She added that the hope is that the mission will share a report at the end of the elections.
The EU and Tanzania share a long standing partnership – a partnership is the outcome of democratic elections in peaceful and transparent manner, she said, adding: “We want to assure EU Ambassadors this year’s election will not be an exception.”
The European Union deployed 68 observers for Tanzania’s October 2010 General Election.
On the October 2010 General Election, there was a joint statement between the government and the EU.
According to the statement, Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation minister Bernard Membe and Ambassador Tim Clarke, then Head of the EU Delegation the 68 observers had been the biggest Election Observers Mission (EOM) the bloc had dispatched to Tanzania.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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