Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday assured former President Dr Goodluck Jonathan, chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group, that Sunday’s Presidential election will be transparent, free and fair.
The outgoing President, whose party is poised for a close contest with the opposition, gave this assurance while receiving the Commonwealth delegation led by Jonathan at the Presidential Palace in Dar es Salaam.
Jonathan and his team had gone to pay a courtesy call on the President where he thanked Kikwete for the invitation extended to the Commonwealth by the Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to be part of the international observer team for the elections.
The former President informed Kikwete that members of the group which comprises 14 eminent persons drawn from across the different regions of the Commonwealth “are already being deployed in small teams to various provinces across the country to observe preparations ahead of polling day.”
“On Election Day, they will observe opening, voting, closing, counting and the results management process”, Jonathan stressed, adding that they team has a mandate to conduct the observation in an impartial, independent and transparent manner.”
The Chair stated that the team had already met with different stakeholders including the Chairman of the electoral commission, party leaders, civil society, police, youth organizations and journalists, adding that the Commonwealth expects a free and fair polling process.
Speaking further Jonathan said: “We will issue an interim statement on our preliminary findings shortly after the elections, while a final report will later be shared with relevant stakeholders after it had been submitted to the Secretary-General.”
He also commended the country for its history of stable democracy with no military intervention in governance as had been the experience of many countries.
While responding, President Kikwete reassured Jonathan that the 2015 elections would be peaceful, free and fair unlike the previous ones that was marred by quarrels and tension.
The President commended Jonathan for accepting the role of Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group and noted that the team that deployed for the 2005 elections was also led by another eminent Nigeria, the late Professor Ade Adefuye who was Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States.
Kikwete said: “We had made adequate preparations for the elections and you can be rest assured that it will be peaceful, free and fair. You can see that everywhere is calm and visitors hardly notice that we are about having a major election.
“Apart from the campaign posters and the big rallies, which give the impression of an electoral process, everywhere is quiet and calm.”