Tanzania’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) on Tuesday announced it has set a total of 80,155 polling centers ahead of the October 28 general elections, reported CGTN Africa.
Mbarouk Salim Mbarouk, the vice-chairman of the electoral body, said 79,670 out of the 80,155 polling centers have been set in mainland Tanzania and 485 centers in the Zanzibar archipelago.
“Each of the polling centers will cater for less than 500 voters,” Mbarouk said during a meeting of election stakeholders in the capital Dodoma.
He said special arrangements have been made for aged voters and voters with special needs, including the deaf, and people with disabilities.
Giveness Aswile, NEC’s director for information and voter’s education, said preparations for the election were going on in full swing.
“NEC has started receiving facilities for the polls and ballot papers will be supplied close to the elections,” said Aswile.
According to the NEC, about 29 million Tanzanians have registered to vote in this year’s election, compared to some 23 million voters registered in 2015. Tanzania has a population of about 57 million.
Tanzania’s election board has approved 15 candidates to run in the general elections including President John Magufuli, who is seeking final re-election for a five-year term.
The final list include the names of Dr. John Magufuli (CCM), Leopold Mahona (NRA), John Shibuda (ADA-Tadea), Mutamwega Mgaywa (SAU), Jeremiah Magan- ja (NCCR), Cecilia Mbaga (DM), Prof Ibrahim Lipumba (CUF) and Philipo Fumbo (DP).
Others are Mr. Bernard Membe (ACT-Wazalendo), Ms Queen Sendiga (ADC), Mr Hashim Rungwe (Chaum- ma), Mr Khalfan Mazrui (UMD), Mr Seif Maalim Seif (AAFP), Mr Twalib Kadege (UPDP) and Mr Tundu Lissu (Chadema).
President Magufuli is expected to get a tough fight from Tundu Lissu, who returned to Tanzania last month after spending nearly three years in Belgium for treatment after he was shot during an assassination attempt, and ex-foreign minister Bernard Membe, who was expelled from the governing Chama Cha Mapinduzi party in February.
