THE Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) has called for the establishment of a fair and transparent system to manage local government elections, one that ensures the participation of every citizen in the democratic process.

Rt. Rev. Wolfgang Pisa, the TEC president, said in a statement issued yesterday that a fair election must be based on the principles of freedom, justice, transparency, neutrality, and respect for the supremacy of the people’s will over their elected leaders.

The Catholic episcopacy expressed appreciation for the solidarity of Tanzanians and their desire to govern themselves through active participation in the voter registration process.

“As we approach the election, we, your spiritual leaders in the Catholic Church, stand with Tanzanians in their quest to elect local government leaders through free and fair elections,” the statement affirmed.

Bishop Pisa, who is Lindi Diocese bishop since May 2022 and TEC president since June 2024 reminded the public that governments are formed primarily to foster development and improve the lives of the people, “ensuring that every group’s dignity is respected, protected and nurtured.”

He cited Article 21 of the 1977 Constitution which affirms that every citizen has both the right and the duty to participate in public affairs, including elections.

“Real development belongs to the people and is driven by the people. The people must be both the source and the goal of development. They are the ones with the authority to make decisions for their own future,” the prelate declared.

The statement reiterated that for the local government elections to be successful, there must be a clear, fair, and accountable system in place to manage the election process.

TEC expressed concern over the mismanagement of the election process so far, noting widespread complaints about the fairness of the proceedings, pointing at “the careless handling of the 2024 voter registration exercise, including the failure to issue voter identification cards and the blatant favouritism shown by officials."

They moved to exclude large numbers of voters especially from opposition parties. This has marred the integrity of the electoral process, the council asserted, it said, urging the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Governments) to ensure that the voting process adheres to democratic principles.

Only those who win legally are announced as victors, it underlined, stressing that election supervisors must conduct the process impartially, ensuring that no party is favoured. “Disregarding the people's will leads to electing leaders who do not represent the true choice of the people,” it said, hinting on the importance of integrity.

“Let us not build a society of fraud. Let us build a nation founded on truth and justice,: the prelate intoned, asserting that divinity has place for deception, desiring that we live according to principles of justice and truth.

TEC appealed to eligible voters to turn out in large numbers on November 27, demanding that the President’s Office (PO-RALG) facilitate a smooth polls run to ensure that democracy flourishes.

That would send a message to the world that the country remains an island of peace, the statement added.