DAR ES SALAAM, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian authorities said on Saturday the east African nation's civic polls planned for November 24 will go ahead despite boycotts announced by three opposition parties.
"The civic polls will be conducted on November 24 as planned despite boycotts announced by some opposition parties," Mwita Waitara, the Deputy Minister in the President's Office responsible for Regional Administration and Local Government told a news conference in the capital Dodoma.
Waitara made the statement after three opposition parties of Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), ACT-Wazalendo and Chama Cha Kijamii (CCK) announced to withdraw from the polls citing irregularities.
Waitara said the government has prepared to ensure peaceful election warning the opposition and other citizens to refrain from instigating chaos during and after the election.
Stringent legal measures will be taken against anyone attempting to disrupt the elections, he said adding that allegations that opposition candidates were disqualified were baseless.
Waitara directed regional and district commissioners and security committees to take action against anyone instigating chaos in their specific areas.
"This country is governed by law. Eligible opposition candidates who claim to have been disqualified were required to follow proper channels in finding solutions to their registration challenges," said Waitara.
In addition, Home Affairs Minister Kangi Lugola directed the Inspector General of Police to take action against some few people reportedly planning to instigate chaos at various parts of the country in order to disrupt the electoral process.
"Security organs including the police force are determined to ensure peace throughout elections. We will use all the resources to control malpractices during the polls and ensure Tanzanians practice their right to vote," said Lugola.
There are 22 registered political parties in Tanzania.
The November 24 civic polls will be the sixth since the country re-introduced multiparty democracy.
Selemani Jafo, the Minister of State in the President's Office responsible for Regional Administration and Local Government said recently the target was to register 22.9 million voters but only 19.7 million registered for the polls.
Statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics show that there are 26,960,485 eligible voters in the country.
