Opting not to vote is throwing the right to govern your welfare - ACT

...

INNOCENT-THE BLOGGER-BOY

ACT-Wazalendo Flag

 Persons who opt not to vote give away their constitutional right to determine the quality of life he or she will live over the next five and/or ten years, women’s wing of opposition party ACT-Wazalendo has said.

 

The reminder was raised yesterday in Dar es Salaam by Chairperson of ACT-Wazalendo women’s wing in Dar es Salaam Fitna Mohamed during a sensitisation tour to encourage registration for the general election.

“Voting is the cornerstone of democracy,” she said.

 

“We have already witnessed leaders whom we chose democratically fail to address our problems...we can change this by exercising our right to vote and encouraging others to do so as well,” she said.

 

“Then, and only then, will our leaders prioritise our needs,” she added.

She said there would be more participation in the registration if people understand the importance of the exercise and the reasons as to why they should register. 

 

“The National Electoral Commission (NEC) should work with existing social structures to see that sensitisation for the exercise is done, down to the grassroots,” she urged.

 

The wing’s Secretary for Ubungo constituency Angel Aganile, said that all over the world, countries deploy various new technologies with the aim of improving efficiency and effectiveness of the electoral process.

 

“Therefore, we have come out to sensitise Dar es Salaam residents on the importance to register and using their civil rights,” she said.

 

“Democracy does not force us to blindly allow leaders to make decisions...voting is extremely important in this respect because we are the ultimate overseers with the power to make a difference in the way we choose our leaders,” she said.

 

“Voting is power, voting makes the difference between complaining about the governmental system and being an active part in its reconstruction,” she added.

 

“It is the responsibility of every eligible Tanzanian to vote because collectively we can transform this country,” she urged and warned that “...we can’t vote if we are not registered.”

 

Commenting, Diana Simba the wing’s chairperson for Ubungo said, “over 24 million Tanzanians will be voting in the coming general election, with Dar es Salaam having the highest number of voters (2.93 million voters) so we need to work hard so that the expected number is reached.”