Let justice, peace reign – as Tanzanians decide

BY EDITOR

23rd October 2015.

 There will surely have been people out there still questioning the level of the maturity of Tanzanians as a nation, doubting whether it was possible for us to have a whole sixty days of non-violent General Election campaigns.

 

Others may have been wondering whether indeed we could have simultaneous transparent, fair, free and peaceful presidential, parliamentary and civic elections across our vast country.

 

This year’s eventful countdown to the eagerly awaited and widely observed elections this Sunday will have proved all these doubting Thomas and prophets of doom very wrong.

 

There were those who predicted violence during the campaign period. However, judging by what has transpired so far, Tanzanians have strongly maintained the spirit of peace, love, harmony and unity which has won them proverbial acclaim transcending territorial boundaries.

 

There were also those who, sad to say, tried hard to instill fear and panic among Tanzanians during the two months of campaigns but, fortunately, but their ill motives failed.For years, some of our security agents created the impression that it was impossible for our people to hold peaceful demonstrations or peaceful campaign rallies. However, looking at how peace has blossomed during the past two months, that impression is unfounded.

 

We, the people, have proved to our security forces that we can have genuinely peaceful campaign, provided that all parties play by the equal rules.

 

There’s no doubt that this will go down in history as one of the most memorable elections in this country, in part owing to the drama that unfolded shortly after CCM picked and endorsed its presidential candidate in Dodoma in July.

 

It’s the first time we have witnessed two former prime ministers joining the opposition, in the process boosting the battle for the one to succeed Jakaya Kikwete as Tanzania’s President and Commander-in-Chief.

 

It’s the second time we have witnessed an especially tough election after the 1995 scenario that saw Father of the Nation Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere feeling literally compelled to stop Augustine Lyatonga Mrema from winning the Union presidential race.

 

Mrema, who was without doubt a most powerful and popular minister, had ditched the ruling CCM and joined the opposition National Convention for Construction and Reform (NCCR-Mageuzi), just months before the General Election.

 

But the battle for State House is this time around much tougher, and this owing to a number of factors – one being that in 1995 there were no mobile phones, Internet or social media such as Facebook.

 

Today, upwards of 25 million people in Tanzania use mobile phones, while over 10 million people access Internet through their mobile phones. The level of political awareness has grown appreciably during the past two decades – it was in 1995 that we held our first General Election since the re-introduction of multiparty politics.

 

As the political parties wind up their campaigns tomorrow, many Tanzania watchers concur that Tanzanians have shown the highest level of political maturity ever.

 

Still, campaigning is but just part of the electoral process. It’s the bridge to the ballot box. Easily the most crucial part, which can either destroy or build the nation, will be this Sunday – October 25 – when over 22 million people are expected to cast their votes.

 

In Africa, we have on many occasions witnessed elections becoming a source of despair, anguish and pain, often followed by violence. Turmoil ensued chiefly because there were those who felt that their votes had been stolen or because the defeated side, whether the opposition or the ruling party, flatly refused to concede defeat.

 

We sincerely believe Sunday’s elections will be genuinely transparent, free and fair – and therefore credible. But to guarantee that, all parties ought to appreciate the fact that this country is much bigger and much more important than any individual.

 

Meanwhile, those in charge of managing the process – in this particular case, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) – ought to act and behave as fairly, justly and as demanded by the laws of the land.

 

Though the extent to which the NEC is free from interference remains subject to debate, the fact is that the commission is duty bound to ensure the holding and delivery of a transparent, free and fair General Election. The State, through its security organs, must likewise appreciate the fact that is there to protect and ensure justice to the nation as a whole and not just particular players or parties.

 

In the event of the election being fair and free, whichever party must loses (be it CCM or an opposition side) should readily concede defeat. The words “free” and “fair” are often simple to pronounce but difficult to implement, particularly in our part of the world – where the growth democracy is a relatively recent phenomenon.

 

We strongly urge all politicians, including the outgoing President, to refrain from uttering inflammatory statements. We say this because we are in an extremely tense moment and any unguided utterances shouldn’t be accepted, much less encouraged.

 

We also appeal to voters to refrain from any acts of violence during and after the voting – and to our law-enforcement agents to act fairly and professionally when handling security issues during and after the voting.

 

It’s indeed high time Tanzanians had transparent, free, fair, peaceful and therefore credible elections. When voters cast their ballots, their voices must be heard and heeded – and every vote should be counted.

 

We should therefore let hope conquer fear, let justice triumph and, above all, let our people decide freely and fairly who should be their next President, their next lawmaker and their next ward councillor.

 

Voters’ voices must be respected, and nurtured, no matter the outcome of Sunday’s elections. It’s only when justice prevails that peace blossoms and democracy flourishes.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN