Friday, 30 October 2015

Jonathan-led observer group expresses concern over Zanzibar poll cancellation


Jonathan-led observer group expresses concern over Zanzibar poll cancellation
By Our Reporter  on October 30, 2015   Politics
… Calls for reversal of annulment
The international election observer groups in Tanzania comprising the Commonwealth, European Union, African Union and the Southern African Development Community yesterday expressed concern over Wednesday’s cancellation of Zanzibar’s presidential poll.
 They  warned that the development could endanger peace and unity in the semi-independent island.
 In a statement jointly issued yesterday in Dar es Salaam, the four international observer groups described nullification of the elections as “unfortunate” and urged the leaders of both Tanzania and Zanzibar to quickly resolve the stalemate.
 The United States embassy in Tanzania also said it is “gravely alarmed” at the annulment of the Zanzibar presidential poll, after what it described as “an orderly and peaceful election.”
In a statement, the U.S. called for the action to be withdrawn and urged “all parties to maintain a commitment to a transparent and peaceful democratic process.”
The Zanzibar Electoral Commission Chairman, Jecha Salum Jecha on Wednesday suspended results declaration and announced a surprise nullification of the Zanzibar election, citing breach of electoral laws and processes.
 This happened despite opposition’s claim of victory, a development likely to exacerbate the growing political crisis in the Isles.
 The cancellation came as a surprise to all stakeholders especially after both the local and international observers had issued interim statements on October 27, declaring that the voting processes in both Zanzibar and across Tanzania were credible and transparent.
 In yesterday’s joint statement, the observers reiterated their belief in the transparency of the cancelled elections, stressing that they “had commended the National Electoral Commission and the Zanzibar Electoral Commission for the competent and largely efficient manner in which they managed the electoral process on election day.

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