Tanzania's lobbies oppose use of public servants as poll supervisors

Tanzania election.

A voter casts her ballot at Wazo Hill polling station in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on October 28, 2020. PHOTO | AFP

Pressure groups in Tanzania are pushing the National Electoral Commission to drop district directors and other public servants from election supervision duties.

Leaders of political parties, civil society and religious groups and lawyers lobby said public servants, mainly district executive directors, town directors, municipal directors, city directors, ward executives and teachers, should not serve as returning officers in civic and general elections.