Chadema candidate finally casts ballot after ‘delays’

Dar es Salaam. Chadema's Ukonga constituency flag bearer Asia Msangi has finally cast her ballot at Lawrence School Polling station in Kitunda ward, Ilala municipality.

Earlier, Ms Msangi had complained of ‘being delayed’ to vote following concerns that her party's agents had been blocked from accessing the polling stations.

The by-election is being held in Ukonga constituency after the area MP, Mr Mwita Waitara defected to the ruling party CCM from the opposition Chadema in wave of dramatic defections that have dominated Tanzania’s political agenda for months.

Mr Waitara is vying for the same seat on the CCM ticket.

The opposition candidate, Ms Msangi said she had failed to cast her vote by noon because, as she claimed, there had been suspected deliberate moves to sabotage the opposition.

She called on the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to act responsibly on the matter.

"I am still running here and there to ensure my party's agents are allowed into the voting stations,” she told The Citizen on mobile phone.

Ms Msangi claimed that although the returning officer had assured her the issue would be tackled, this had not been the case.

She finally votes

At 2.00p.m, East Africa Time, Ms Msangi arrived at the polling station and at 2.08p.m, she cast the ballot.

She was accompanied by the Tarime urban MP Ester Matiko and other party officials.

Speaking shortly after voting, Ms Msangi asked Ukonga residents who had not voted yet, to go ahead and exercise their democratic right.