Wards councilor contenders to fill code of conduct forms
What you need to know:
- The move will also enable officers to recognize candidates who do not know how to read and write
The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has directed election supervisors and their assistances to ensure that the election ethics and regulations forms were filled by candidates in their presence.
The directives were made on Tuesday, October 17, by the NEC director of elections, Mr Ramadhan Kailima, during the climax of a-three day training to the supervisors and assistance supervisors of elections.
The training, which was coordinated by the electoral body, are in line with the preparation for the councillors by-election to be held in 43 wards in November 26.
“Form number 10 is an oath form; it is a statement which needs to be filled under the authoritative supervision. So we have ordered all forms be filled on the same day and signed in presence of supervisors at wards levels,” stressed Mr Kailima.
The directives, he said, came after some areas had experienced a number of weaknesses in the previous elections, where such forms were filled and signed in the absence of the supervisors, something which is against the law.
For his part, Lushoto District Executive Director, Mr Kazimbaya Makwega, said NEC order follows a long-discussion which transpired during the training on how supervisors would recognise contesters who did know neither how to read nor to write.
“This new directive compel contesters to fill and sign the forms before the supervisors. By doing so it will be easy to recognize someone who is totally ignorant,” noted Mr Makwega.
He applauded the decision noting: “This is a commendable decision by NEC… it is an important criterion to identify whether or not the candidate is qualifying for the position.”
