The Permanent Voters ' Register (PVR) and the Quest for Free and Fair Elections in Tanzania
Abstract
Historically, every time there was an election in Tanzania a fresh voter registration was conducted. This turned to be not only a tedious and expensive exercise but also it was fraudulent. After the re-introduction of multipartyism questions were raised on the fairness of this system of registering voters. Recommendations were made that a permanent voter register be introduced to address some of the problems caused by a less sophisticated and easy to manipulate temporary voter register. Prior to the 2005 General Elections, for both the Union and Zanzibar Governments, a permanent voter register was introduced. The way the exercise was conducted, both in the mainland and Zanzibar, is the subject of this article. Attention is paid to whether or not the voter register creates a foundation for free and fair elections. Our analysis shows that the exercise of registering voters itself, especially in Zanzibar, was in no way free and fair, hence creating a weak foundation on which to build subsequent electoral stages.References
Bavu, I., 1990, "Election Management and Democracy", in H. Othman, I. Bavu, and M. Okema eds, Tanzania: Democracy in Transition (Dar es Salaam: Dar es Salaam University Press).
Herbst, J., 1999, "The Role of Citizenship Laws in Multi-ethnic Societies: Evidence from Africa", in Joseph R., ed, State, Conflict, and Democracy in Africa (Boulder Colorado: Lynne Rienner).
Kamata, N., 2005, "The Politics of PVR in Zanzibar", TEMCO Reports.
Liviga, A., 1997, "Electoral Rules and Administration of the 1995 Elections in the Constituencies"; in S. S. Mushi and R. S. Mukandala eds, Multiparty Democracy in Transition: Tanzania ' s General Elections (Dar es Salaam: REDET).
Mogela, C., 2005, "Management of Voter Registration in Mainland Tanzania", TEMCO Reports.
Mukandala R. S. and Ahmed, R., 2005, "The Politics of PVR in Tanzania Mainland", TEMCO Reports.
Ndumbaro, L, 2005, "The PVR in Tanzania Mainland: Complaints and their Resolutions", TEMCO Reports.
NEC, 2001, The Report of the National Electoral Commission on the 2000 Presidential, Parliamentary and Councilors Elections (Dar es Salaam: Dar es Salaam University Press).
Rueschemeyer, D., Stephens E. H., and Stephens, J. D., 1992, Capitalism Development and Democracy (Chicago: University of Chicago Press).
Rustow, D. A., 1970, Philosophers and Kings: Studies in Leadership (New York, George Braziller).
Sheriff, A., 1994, "The Union and the Struggle for Democracy in Tanzania", in Rwekaza S. Mukandala and Haroub Othman eds, Liberalisation and Politics: The 1990 Election in Tanzania (Dar es Salaam: Dar es Salaam University Press).
TEMCO, 2005 (a), TEMCO Newsletter: Mainland Update, Vol. 2, No. 6 March
TEMCO, 2005 (b), TEMCO Newsletter: Mainland Update, Vol. 2, No. 7 April.
TEMCO, 2001, The 2000 General Elections in Tanzania: Report of the Tanzania Election Monitoring Committee (Dar es Salaam: TEMCO).
TEMCO, 1997, The 1995 General Elections in Tanzania: Report of the Tanzania Election Monitoring Committee (Dar es Salaam: TEMCO).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright © by Department of Political Science and Public Administration, University of Dar es Salaam
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, except for short extracts in fair dealing, for research or private study, critical scholarly review or discourse with an acknowledgement.
The African Review: A Journal of African Politics, Development and International Affairs [ISSN 0856-0056 (Print) & ISSN 1821-889X (Online)] is published bi-annually, June and December by the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 35042 €“ Dar es Salaam €“ Tanzania
