African election observers are upbeat about Sunday’s scheduled elections in Tanzania, saying meetings with stakeholders in the country have been positive. Arthur Moody Awori, leader of the East African Community observer mission, said his team had received assurances of readiness in meetings with the National Electoral Commission of Tanzania, political parties and civil society organizations.
The former Kenyan vice president also called for citizens to remain peaceful and abide by the electoral laws as they prepare to vote in the presidential, parliamentary and local elections.
Officials said the observers were sent to Tanzania to promote democracy in accordance with the principles of the regional bloc, which seeks to boost economic integration in East Africa.
Awori said his team of poll observers had been monitoring the preparedness of the electoral commission as well as the atmosphere leading to Sunday’s vote.
“We have talked with the National Electoral Commission, and they have assured us that all the matters that go into making the citizens cast their vote are all in place,” he said. “We have talked to the security officers, and they, too, have told us that they are ready to ensure that there is security everywhere.”
Sunday will mark Tanzania’s fifth election since the country gained independence from former colonial power Britain.
