There is no standard method to verify the citizenship of persons being registered in the ongoing Biometric Voters Registration, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) has conceded.
NEC has also admitted that for verification, it solely relies on residents of a given area to point out suspected illegitimate registries.
In an exclusive interview with The Guardian yesterday in Dar es Salaam, NEC Director of Elections, Julius Malaba admitted that; “we don’t have a mechanism to identify a person’s citizenship before we register them.”
“To track illegal registrations, NEC will publicly display the names of every registered voter and we will allow residents of a given area to point out names that they doubt and these will be called to verify their identities and residency,” he explained.
“In collaboration with residents, our agents and authorities will be able to identify legitimate voters and those who are not,” he detailed.
“The public should be aware, registering is not the end of the process, they will have to be verified by respective agents in their locales,” he detailed saying persons whose legitimacy will be questioned, will be required to avail documents to verify their citizenship and residency.
The development comes in the wake of weekend reports that over 12,000 foreigners have been registered in the BVR in just one district with figures feared to be a lot higher elsewhere in the country.
“We are aware that there are foreigners being registered...that is why we have decided to verify the names before finalising the exercise,” he went on to say.
Over the weekend, troubling reports revealed that some 12,128 illegal immigrants have been registered in the Permanent voters’ Register (PVR) in Kyerwa District.
The report was confirmed by the Kyerwa District Administrative Secretary Josephat Kakuru, who said most of the illegal immigrants were from neighboring countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
Kakuru, who doubles as the acting Kyerwa District Commissioner, said when the District Peace and Security Committee discovered the anomaly it summoned the illegal immigrants and confiscated over 8000 registration cards.
“The police and other state organs are still working on the issue to ensure that all cards that have fallen to the wrong hands are recovered,” he said.
According to him, the illegal immigrants bribed dishonest officials to get into the permanent voters register (PVR).
“All those involved in the scandal will be arrested and taken to court to answer the charges,” he added citing that the same fate will befall all local government officials who assisted the illegal immigrants.
In a similar development, last week four people, including three Kenyans, were arrested by the police for entering Tanzania illegally and registering twice in the PVR.
According to the Bunda district immigration officer, Elizeus Mushongi, the Kenyans were arrested following a tip off from Good Samaritans.
Briefing the Bunda District Commissioner, Joshua Mirumbe, Mushongi said the Kenyans had registered in more than two centres when they were arrested and will be taken to court to answer the charges once investigations are complete.
In a another development Correspondent Renatus Masuguliko reports that at least five people, including one teacher have been arrested by police in Nyang'hwale District, Geita Region following their alleged involvement in the theft of a Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) machine in the region.
Nyang'hwale District Commissioner Ibrahim Marwa said the incident took place over the weekend at a local primary school where the machine was stored and that investigations are ongoing.
“The machine was stolen under questionable circumstances because the door of the room in which it was kept with other equipment was locked and not tampered with,” he said.
Commenting, Geita Regional Police Commander Joseph Konyo said a special task force has been tasked with finding the machine and nabbing the suspects.
Nec has also admitted that for verification, it solely relies on residents of a given area to point out suspected illegitimate registries.
In an exclusive interview with The Guardian yesterday in Dar es Salaam, NEC Director of Elections, Julius Malaba admitted that; “we don’t have a mechanism to identify a person’s citizenship before we register them.”
“To track illegal registrations, NEC will publicly display the names of every registered voter and we will allow residents of a given area to point out names that they doubt and these will be called to verify their identities and residency,” he explained.
“In collaboration with residents, our agents and authorities will be able to identify legitimate voters and those who are not,” he detailed.
“The public should be aware, registering is not the end of the process, they will have to be verified by respective agents in their locales,” he detailed saying persons whose legitimacy will be questioned, will be required to avail documents to verify their citizenship and residency.
The development comes in the wake of weekend reports that over 12,000 foreigners have been registered in the BVR in just one district with figures feared to be a lot higher elsewhere in the country.
“We are aware that there are foreigners being registered...that is why we have decided to verify the names before finalising the exercise,” he went on to say.
Over the weekend, troubling reports revealed that some 12,128 illegal immigrants have been registered in the Permanent voters’ Register (PVR) in Kyerwa District.
The report was confirmed by the Kyerwa District Administrative Secretary Josephat Kakuru, who said most of the illegal immigrants were from neighboring countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
Kakuru, who doubles as the acting Kyerwa District Commissioner, said when the District Peace and Security Committee discovered the anomaly it summoned the illegal immigrants and confiscated over 8000 registration cards.
“The police and other state organs are still working on the issue to ensure that all cards that have fallen to the wrong hands are recovered,” he said.
According to him, the illegal immigrants bribed dishonest officials to get into the permanent voters register (PVR).
“All those involved in the scandal will be arrested and taken to court to answer the charges,” he added citing that the same fate will befall all local government officials who assisted the illegal immigrants.
In a similar development, last week four people, including three Kenyans, were arrested by the police for entering Tanzania illegally and registering twice in the PVR.
According to the Bunda district immigration officer, Elizeus Mushongi, the Kenyans were arrested following a tip off from Good Samaritans.
Briefing the Bunda District Commissioner, Joshua Mirumbe, Mushongi said the Kenyans had registered in more than two centres when they were arrested and will be taken to court to answer the charges once investigations are complete.
In a another development Correspondent Renatus Masuguliko reports that at least five people, including one teacher have been arrested by police in Nyang'hwale District, Geita Region following their alleged involvement in the theft of a Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) machine in the region.
Nyang'hwale District Commissioner Ibrahim Marwa said the incident took place over the weekend at a local primary school where the machine was stored and that investigations are ongoing.
“The machine was stolen under questionable circumstances because the door of the room in which it was kept with other equipment was locked and not tampered with,” he said.
Commenting, Geita Regional Police Commander Joseph Konyo said a special task force has been tasked with finding the machine and nabbing the suspects.
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