THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is preparing to launch a seven-day voter registration campaign in Mwanza and Shinyanga regions to register more than 400,000 new voters.

INEC chairman Judge Jacobs Mwambegele presided at a preparatory session in Mwanza, yesterday while vice chairman Judge (rtd) Mbarouk Salim Mbarouk, opened a similar session in Shinyanga,

The meetings brought together election stakeholders, given the week-long campaign to update the Permanent Voters’ Register that will run from August 21 to 27, they said.

It will highlight important information to prepare the residents to exercise their rights in the upcoming local government elections, with the top officials urging stakeholders to seek out other residents to update their voter-related information for the election process to run smoothly, to put in place the most eligible voters.

Kailima Ramadhani, the director of elections, outlined that in Shinyanga a total of 209,951 new voters are expected to be registered, while in Mwanza the update targets up to 190,131 new voters.

The Mwanza new voters represent a 10.3 percent increase over 1,845,816 voters already in the register, making a total of 2,035,947 voters, he said, noting that the new voters in Shinyanga marking a 21 percent increase over 995,918 voters already in the register. This will bring Shinyanga Region to 1,205,869 prospective voters, he stated.

The provisional figures are based on the 2022 Population and Housing Census, he said, remarking that the voter register updating exercise was launched in Kigoma on July 20.

It includes the first phase in Kigoma, Tabora and Katavi regions, while the second phase covering Geita and Kagera regions is being concluded, on August 11.

Recently, INEC granted permits to 191 civil society organisations to provide voter education and monitor the upgrading of the register, with 157 civic organisations tasked with the provision of voter education during the exercise, while 34 organisations are engaged as observers.

The permits were issued on June 22 and 24 under Article 10(1) (g) and (h) of the NEC Act No. 2 updated 2024, read together with Regulation 46(4) of the PVR Improvement Regulations similarly updated 2024.

Notable organisations included are the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), the Tunu Pinda Foundation, the Tanzania Bora Initiative, the Women’s Legal Aid Centre (WLAC), Tanzania Women Lawyers Association (TAWLA) and the United Nations Association of Tanzania (UNA Tanzania).

Yet others are Save the Community Tanzania, Yiaga Africa, Songwe Paralegal Service Centre, Sumbawanga Legal Aid Centre (SULAC), the Iringa Development of Youths, Disabled and Children Care (IDYDC), the Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP), HakiElimu and the Kibondo Paralegal Foundation (KIPAFO), 

Still others cited are ActionAid Tanzania, Window for Justice and Peace Organisation, Sheria Poa, Makangarawe Youth Information and Development Centre, Zanzibar Fighting Against Youth Challenges Organisation, NGOs Network for Dodoma and People with Disabilities Can Make It.