EAC observer mission deploys for Tanzania elections
ARUSHA, Tanzania, October 25, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — An 18-member EAC Elections Observer Mission arrives in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on Sunday 24 October to observe the General Elections slated for 31 October 2010 in both the Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar. The Mission is heading to Dar es Salaam at the invitation of the National Electoral Commission of Tanzania.
The Mission’s mandate is to observe the preparations for the election, the polling, the counting and the results process, and the overall electoral environment. The mission will also assess the conduct of the process as a whole and, where appropriate, make recommendations for the future strengthening of the electoral framework in the United Republic of Tanzania.
It will also look out for best electoral practices that could be emulated in the region and generally to widen and deepen cooperation between Partner States in socio-economic and political Affairs. The Mission will ascertain whether the elections were free and fair and conform to principles of good governance and democracy in the region.
The Mission, which is being led by Hon. Abdul Karim Harelimana, a Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (Rwanda), will undergo a pre-deployment training from 25-26 October in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania before deploying to the regions.
The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Hon. Beatrice Kiraso says “as the region moves deeper in the integration process with the ultimate goal of having a Political Federation, EAC Partner States need to standardize their governance practices and should take keen interest in each others’ political and electoral processes”.
Hon. Beatrice Kiraso contends that successful and peaceful elections in the United Republic of Tanzania is of paramount importance to the Partner States and the region as a whole because lack of peace and stability in any Partner State will definitely undermine the outstanding milestones the region has so far achieved. “Therefore we expect a successful mission and we very much hope that they will further strengthen the democratic process and advance development in the region’.
The EAC Observer Mission to Tanzania is being undertaken pursuant to Article 3 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community (Treaty) which requires “…adherence to universally acceptable principles of good governance democracy, the rule of law, observance of human rights and social justice….”and Article 5(1) of the Treaty which provides for “…widening and deepening cooperation among the Partner States in political, economic, social and cultural fields, research and technology, defence, security and legal and judicial affairs, for their mutual benefit.”
The EAC Election Observer Mission is mainly comprised of Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) as well as Members of National Assemblies from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. The exclusion of Members of EALA from the United Republic of Tanzania is consistent with adopted practice that Members of the Mission should not participate in election observations in their own countries.
The Mission is expected to prepare a Report that will be submitted to, among others, the National Electoral Commission of Tanzania, and the EAC Council of Ministers for consideration to inform future engagement and interaction during electoral processes in other Partner States. The Mission will leave Tanzania on 2 November 2010.
SOURCE
East African Community (EAC)
