Dar voter figures disappoint

Dar es Salaam. Chadema leaders yesterday expressed frustrations over poor turnout of Dare es Salaam residents to register for today’s local government polls.

The party’s deputy secretary general (Zanzibar), Mr Salum Mwalimu, told reporters that up to the time the registration exercise came to an end at least 43 per cent of the city’s eligible voters had registered ready for the polls.

“Most Dar es Salaam residents seem not to care about registering or voting because they think it is of no help to them,” he lamented.

According to Mr Mwalimu, there was low turnout at various registration centres in the city, a situation that calls for more mobilisation and civic education in future.

But according to Mr Mwalimu the city dwellers have in mind that local leaders are of help in rural areas saying they think they have no serious problems which can be solved by such authorities.

“We have so far put up a candidate in almost all the streets and villages in the country and it is the first time we have put such a number,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary in Prime Minister’s Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PMRALG), Mr Jumanne Sagini, said Dar es Salaam has the lowest number of registered voters compared to other regions in the country. The PS said only 43 per cent of the eligible voters in Dar es Salaam came out to register attributing the shortfall to vast political misunderstandings in the region.

He said people in the city are both directly and indirectly impacted by duties performed by local government officials compared to rural areas. Close to 11.5 million people will today participate in electing local government leaders across the country in a process starting around 8:am and closing at 4:pm.