Source: Tanzanian electoral team in Zim on study tour – herald
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
A FIVE-MEMBER delegation from Tanzania’s Independent Electoral Commission is in Zimbabwe on a nine-day study tour to exchange knowledge and experiences on electoral processes with their Zimbabwean counterparts.
The team, led by IEC Head of Delegation Mr Luphingo Japhary Mwasalijonja, met with Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) officials in Harare yesterday.
The ZEC team was led by Chief Executive Officer Mr Simbarashe Tongayi.
In an interview, Mr Mwasalijonja said the visit comes shortly after Tanzania completed its own elections.
“We are very happy to visit Zimbabwe, because it’s just one year since we accomplished our election in Tanzania. Currently, we are preparing for the 2030 election — the next election after five years. During this period, we want to share with a foreign country like Zimbabwe on how they manage elections.”
He outlined the specific areas of interest.
“We are here specifically to learn how they manage the election cycle – from demarcation of polling stations, voter registration, nomination of candidates, how they manage campaigns and finally, how they conduct elections at the polling stations.”
Mr Mwasalijonja noted that the delegation’s programme includes presentations and practical observations at the polling station level.
“The aim of this benchmarking and knowledge sharing is to improve our election process. I think even Zimbabwe will benefit from our visit, because we will also share what we do in our home country.”
He added that other Tanzanian delegates have visited or plan to visit Lesotho and Ghana for similar benchmarking exercises.
In his remarks, Mr Tongayi said ZEC greatly values such visits.
“They are not only technically beneficial to both sister organisations but also important in improving and cementing cordial relations between the two electoral management bodies.”
He described benchmarking as an essential tool that every organisation must use periodically, noting that no institution is perfect or knowledgeable in all areas.
“Some of the benefits of benchmarking in election management include increased electoral accountability, adoption of innovations and international best practices, high voter turnout, decreased disputed election outcomes through credible elections, absence of electoral violence and promotion of democratic principles and economic growth.”
Mr Tongayi encouraged the Tanzanian team to freely observe ZEC’s operations and offer constructive feedback.
“ZEC does not interpret your visit as that of ignorant managers, but one simply meant to increase your knowledge and skills in electoral management. It is my fervent hope that your visit will be reciprocated by a ZEC delegation in the near future.”
He noted that several electoral management bodies from the region and continent have visited ZEC on similar missions and that ZEC has also travelled abroad.
Reflecting on Zimbabwe’s 2023 Harmonised Elections held in August, Mr Tongayi said: “All observers were in unison in describing them as some of the most peaceful elections ever conducted in this country.
“The peaceful environment that has prevailed from August 2023 to date should put to rest any views that cast aspersions on the elections’ credibility.”
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