Millions of Tanzanians yesterday turned out to elect their president, members of parliament and councillor in the fourth General Election.

However, the exercise was marred by irregularities such as missing names, claims of malpractice and protests by voters in some areas.

Reports from Ilala indicate thousands of voters turned out early in the morning and cast their ballots peacefully in all three constituencies in the district; Ilala, Ukonga and Segerea. Those interviewed said the exercise was smooth, but some complained of missing names.

“My name doesn’t appear on the list, I have been struggling to fix the problem since Friday, but I have not achieved anything,” said Ms Ephraem Chittanda, a resident of Kitunda.

Musoma Urban constituency recorded a high voter turnout, with most polling statitions openning to long queues at 7am.

The only incident was reported at Musoma Primary School polling station, where voters booed area Chama Cha Mapinduzi(CCM) publicity secretary Godfery Kumira for allegedly transporting voters.

But Mr Kumira dismissed the allegations, saying he only picked up his mother and escorted her to the booth to vote as she was illiterate. Opposition supporters pointed out that the woman he was escorting was neither his mother nor a relative.

Voters at the station also threatened to burn a car claiming it was used by a political party to transport voters.

President Jakaya Kikwete of CCM is facing a stiff challenge from Chadema's Dr Wilbrod and Civic United Front's Prof Ibrahim Lipumba. Others are NCCR Mageuzi’s Hashim Rungwe and Fahni Dovutwa of the United People’s Democratic Party (UPDP) and APPT Maendeleo Peter Kuga Mziray.

Bribery

At Kitaji ward poling station the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau arrested CCM leader in Musoma Urban over allegation of bribing two policemen.

The incident took place around 12.30 pm at Kitaji ward CCM offices. It is alleged the police officers pocketed Sh100,000 each.

Meanwhile, a voter register went missing in Sombetini ward in Arusha Urban constituency.
The Arusha Regional Police Cmmander, Mr Basilio Matei said they were questioning a polling clerk over the incident. The register had 470 names of voters.

However, the returning officer, Mr Estomihi Changa, said an unidentified man snatched the register from the clerk at the polling centre and hadnot been traced.

Earlier, Mr Changa, said his officers saved the situation at Sokoni One area after political parties rejected a polling station at a private school.

The National Electoral Commission (NEC) had directed that private buildings or those owned by religious institutions shall not to be used for voting unless all parties agree.

Elsewhere there was a huge turn out of voters in Arusha. Many people braved the blistering hot sun to cast their votes amid complaints of missing names

Officials supervising the exercise played down the problem, saying those who missed their names in one polling centre could still find them in an adjacent station.

Parts of Arusha were reduced to a ghost town as people thronged the polling centres. However, many people interviewed confirmed that the exercise was this time much easier because of the 500 voter limit to each voting station.

Spot checks in Temeke and Kigamboni constituencies also established that the exercise was smooth. Beatus Kagashe reports that people casted their ballots peaceful though many people had problems located their names.

“This is confusing, am here since 6:00 pm but I haven’t seen my name and am going back home, the name was there on Friday but today, even by the assistance from the clerks we missed it,” said Mr Rajabu Hamis.

Bernard James reports from Kinondoni that the voting process in many parts of Kinondoni Municipality was held peacefully although in many polling stations there were massive complaints from people who missed voting because their names were either not seen in list of voters or transferred to other station without their knowledge.

There was chaos at Tandale Primary School when some 300 youths believed to be CUF supporters blocked the entrance of the station to prevent people whom they said were not residents of the area but were being brought in the station and lined up for voting.

A woman who was accused of casting vote twice was attacked by the youths. It took the riot police to rescue the woman and calm the tense situation.

“We have witnessed some coming here to vote twice. We are here to block them from entering the station because we know each other very well. We are prepared for anything,” Abdallah mtope told The Citizen.

Former Chama Cha Mapinduzi councilor for Tandale wards and former deputy mayor for Dar es Salaam Mr Ahmed Mwilima was attacked and kicked down by a group of youth who suspected him of attempting to bring in casted ballots papers in favour of his party.

At Mbezi makonde polling station The Citizen witnessed some 20 people complaining they could not vote because their names were not seen the list of voters despite having voter registration cards.

“I registered at Mbezi Soko Jipya in 2005. Today my name is not seen anywhere. I contacted NEC but I was told the number on my registration card belonged to Halima Ngumbi. I have been here since 10am. This is too disturbing,” Ester Simon alleged.

NCCR-Mageuzi presidential candidate Hashim Rungwe was accompanied by his wife Tunu Rungwe to cast his vote at Mikocheni B Primary School.

He later told reporters that he was so far satisfied with the voting process and that he was confident of winning a landslide victory if the situation prevailed.