Chadema to hold protests today in Arusha against BVR

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INNOCENT-THE BLOGGER-BOY

Arusha Urban MP, Godbless Lema

 The country’s leading opposition party, Chadema, today plans to stage a mass protest in Arusha against what it terms irregularities in the ongoing Biometric Voters Registration (BVR) exercise.

This come barely a day after Arusha Urban MP, Godbless Lema, expressed discontent on the exercise, accusing the police force of interfering with it.

Among other reasons for the protest is the slow-pace at which the exercise is going on, making people queue overnight at registration centres.

BVR centres where the exercise has been going on at a slow pace include those of Ngusero, Sombetini, Madukani, Mkombozi, Murriet, FFU, Bon City, Ally Yusufu, Osunyai, Sokoni 1, Veta and Zahanati.

Speaking to local government leaders and Chadema supporters, MP Lema called on ‘unsatisfied citizens’ to join in protesting the exercise.

On whether it is legal, Lema had this to say: “We have submitted a letter to the Arusha Regional Police Commander for the planned protest to get his blessing. If the police say no to our intention we won’t relent because we are demanding better procedures in the BVR exercise.

“We want to see all people get registered in the BVR…but from what we see the chance for all people to get registered is very small.”

He said the party also wanted a thorough explanation from NEC as to why the BVR exercise is backpedalling. He claimed that registration officials were opening the BVR centres for only four hours out of the planned 12 hours each day.

He urged the NEC to extend registration days for wards that started the BVR exercise.

Earlier, Chadema leaders met with the Arusha City Council Executive Director, Juma Idd, to discuss the said irregularities that include the  limited number of BVR kits at centres with many people.

For his part, Idd cited limited BVR kits as the reason behind the slow pace of the registration exercise.

According to him, it started at Moshono, Terrat, Osunyai, Sokoni 1 and Sinoni wards with a total of 55 registration centres to conduct the exercise in just seven days. 

“Thereafter we will move to Sekei, Olasiti, Olomoti, Elerai, Sakina and Unga Limited wards where there will be 44 centres,” he said.

The third phase will involve Kimandolu, Baraa, Olorien, Themi, Moivaro, Engutoto and Lemara wards with 55 centres. The fourth phase will involve Levolosi, Daraja Mbili, Ngarenaro, Kaloleni, Sombetini and city center wards with 34 centres.”

On the need to extend registration days, Idd said he had no mandate to do so, but NEC has. The director extended the registration time from 6pm to 8pm in areas where there is power.

The exercise kicked off on June 16 and will go on until mid-July this year