The Democratic Change Party (Chadema) Vice-Chairperson for Mainland, Tundu Lissu, has raised concerns about the limited time allocated for candidates to collect nomination forms for local government elections.
The initial schedule, issued by the Ministry of Regional Administration (TAMISEMI), provided only one day—November 1, 2024—for this critical process. Lissu described this as a potential trap for opposition parties, as it would have created logistical difficulties for candidates.
During a meeting in Kibamba on November 2, Lissu, addressing aspirants from his party, emphasized the importance of fairness in the election process. He warned that having only one day to collect forms could lead to situations where candidates would arrive to find offices closed. However, after discussions with Chadema’s National Chairperson Freeman Mbowe, other political leaders, and TAMISEMI Minister Mohammed Mchengerwa, an agreement was reached to extend the filing period from November 1 to November 7, 2024.
This extension was crucial for ensuring that opposition candidates had adequate time to meet the necessary requirements and avoid being unfairly disqualified due to time constraints. The Democratic Change Party has been actively engaging with the government to address electoral issues in the lead-up to the local government elections, which are seen as a key test for opposition parties ahead of the 2025 national elections.
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Lissu, who remains a prominent figure in Tanzanian opposition politics, continues to advocate for transparency and democratic reforms within the electoral process