THE ruling CCM has directed the President's Office (Regional Administration and Local Governments- PO-RALG), to overlook minor errors in candidate forms for the upcoming civic polls, which occasioned the disqualification of a wide range of contestants.

Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi, the CCM secretary general, said at a press conference yesterday the party secretariat had consulted with the chairperson, President Samia Suluhu Hassan on the issue, as opposition parties raised concern over the disqualification of their candidates for technicalities or errors across the country. 

The president has instructed that national interests should take precedence in the election process, where the secretariat executive said that party headquarters had observed several shortfalls in the handling of the elections.

This particularly concerns the filling of candidate nomination forms where the supposed errors or technicalities touched off an avalanche of disqualification of numerous party candidates.

The correction of polls handling is intended to ensure broader participation in the democratic process and prevent likely poll disruptions, he said, asking PO-RALG to show flexibility and facilitate the participation of nominated candidates even with minor errors.

Supervisors should overlook the minor issues that led to disqualification of contestants especially at this stage of the appeals process, so that many people can take part in the polling, he emphasised.

While the disqualifications may have been legally justified, the core purpose of the law is to strengthen and not to disrupt the democratic process, he said, elaborating that laws are initiated to promote peace and democracy, not to cause confusion or chaos.

“We need to ensure that our laws facilitate the democratic process, not hinder it," he said, reiterating that President Samia is adamant on protecting the country's democracy, where the large number of those registered to participate in the civic polls as a sign of democratic growth.

"The overwhelming participation of people in the electoral process is proof that Tanzania's democracy is maturing," he stated, as PO-RALG state minister Mohamed Mchengerwa urged political parties to use the remaining period for appeals to resolve the issues.

President Samia effectively directed that all candidates disqualified due to minor errors should be reinstated, with only those who committed serious violations remaining disqualified.

This decision is part of an effort to ensure inclusivity and fairness in the upcoming elections, a critical exercise for the country's democratic development, the secretariat executive intoned.