Women account for 378,334 voters (53 percent) and men 339,223 (47 percent). By age, 326,304 voters (45 percent) are between 18 and 35 years, 300,986 (42 percent) are 36–59, and 90,267 (13 percent) are 60 and above
Unguja. The Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) has confirmed that 717,557 citizens are eligible to vote in the October general election, after striking 8,325 names from the permanent voter register for failing to meet eligibility criteria.
The announcement was made on September 30, 2025, during a stakeholder meeting in Unguja, where ZEC Director of Elections, Thabit Idarous Faina, said the verification process had been completed.
Women account for 378,334 voters (53 percent) and men 339,223 (47 percent). By age, 326,304 voters (45 percent) are between 18 and 35 years, 300,986 (42 percent) are 36–59, and 90,267 (13 percent) are 60 and above.
“This is now your capital, politicians,” Faina said. “It is up to you to figure out how to reach them during campaigns and convince them to vote for you.”
He confirmed that 50 early voting centres have been designated whereby 32 are in Unguja and 18 in Pemba. Some 1,752 polling stations will operate on election day, with 1,294 in Unguja and 458 in Pemba.
Faina also said election observers from 10 countries and three international organisations have applied for accreditation, with more expected ahead of the polls.
He dismissed concerns about early voting abuse, stressing that the system was introduced on recommendations from 2010 observers to safeguard voters’ rights.
Meanwhile, ZEC Chairperson Justice George Joseph Kazi urged political parties to focus on policies and solutions rather than calling on supporters to “guard” votes.
“Once you vote, the law requires you to leave the polling area within 200 metres,” he said. “Protecting the vote is the duty of accredited agents and authorised institutions, not ordinary citizens.”
Justice Kazi also called on civic education groups to intensify voter education, noting their training is often more impartial than that offered by politicians.
Stakeholders raised concerns about facilities for persons with disabilities, delays in issuing voter IDs, and limited awareness among security personnel on ZEC-issued identification.
Faina assured participants that the commission will address these issues and conduct training sessions for election officials and security agencies before polling day.
