ACHIEVEMENTS:
Since inception of the National Electoral commission in 1993 it has acquired various achievements including the following:
Efficient Management of Elections
One of NEC’s notable achievements is the successful conduct of five by – elections in a short period of time between 1993 and 1994 in the following constituencies:
(a) Kwahani (1993)
(b) Ileje (1994)
(c) Kigoma – Urban (1994)
(d) Igunga (1994)
(e) Tabora North (1994)
The Commission also conducted the Local Government Elections in Tanzania Mainland in 1994.
In 1995 the Commission conducted and supervised the 1995 General Elections. After the 1995 General Election, the Commission carried out twenty one by-elections in the following constituencies: Magu, Morogoro North, Kahama, Kishapu, Sengerema, Mikunguni, Ulanga East, Bunda, Mitema, Ubungo, Bukoba Rural, Nyang’wale, Kigoma Urban, Singida North, Ludewa, Makete, Muleba South, Arusha Urban, Kibaha; and Temeke which conducted two by-elections.
Out of the above mentioned by-elections, one was a result of the resignation of a Member of Parliament, and the other one by a Member of Parliament crossing the floor to another political party. Nine by-elections were caused by deaths of Members of Parliament, and ten by-elections were due to nullification of election results by the court.
In the year 2000, the National Electoral Commission conducted and supervised the Presidential, Parliamentary and Councilor’s elections. For the first time, three elections were conducted together thus reducing the cost of elections considerably.
In order to facilitate, and enable the 2000 elections to be conducted together, the following legislations had to be amended.
(a) The Elections Act, 1985 (No. 1 of 1985).
(b) The Local Authorities (Elections) Act (No. 4 of 1979);
After the 2000 elections, the Commission conducted nineteen by-elections to fill in vacancies that occurred due to various reasons. The by-elections were carried out in the following constituencies:- Bukoba Rural, Kilombero, Mpanda West, Kigoma South, Chonga, Chambani, Mtambile, Ziwani, Mgogoni, Micheweni, Tumbe, Konde, Wingwi, Pandani, Kojani, Mtambwe, Ole, Utaani and Gando.
The elections were carried out successfully in accordance with the law without major problems.
Voter Education
Formerly voter education was not a legal function of the Commission. However, the Commission was conducting voter education without legal mandate in order to educate and mobilize the people to participate in elections. One of the efforts which, were made by NEC was to recommend to the Government to formulate a law which, gives the Commission the mandate to conduct voter education. As a result the Elections Act of 1985 was amended to give NEC the mandate to provide voter education throughout the country and to co-ordinate and supervise persons who conduct such education.
Involvement of Political Parties
The relationship and co-operation between the Commission and Political Parties keeps on improving. The Commission co-operates with, and involves Political Parties that have permanent registration, in all election activities and hence operates more transparently in the execution of its duties. Moreover the Commission provides to Political Parties election timetables early and informs them regularly on the progress of the electoral processes.
The Commission convenes meetings with Political Parties. In the meetings different issues are discussed, including the preparations of Elections, the Code of Conduct for elections, and its implementation and the conduct of election campaigns. Furthermore, Political Parties are also represented in the Commission’s Committees. Political Parties use the opportunity of these meetings to inform the Commission about various problems that occur at different stages of the electoral processes. The Commission makes follow up and gives feedback to the Political Parties.
Moreover, the Commission gives opportunity to Political Parties to give their views in respect of the proposed registration centres and on the appointment of Registration Assistants. The Commission also invites representatives of political parties to registration centres to witness the registration exercise.
Registration of Voters
4.1 Turn up for registration
NEC has been commended by various stakeholders due to its integrity and impartiality during elections. As a result of this, a number of people increasingly turn up for registration. For example in 1995 General Election, NEC registered 81% of the expected voters, and in the 2000 General Election, it registered 97% of the expected voters.
The registration of voters in the Permanent National Voters’ Register (PNVR) for the 2005 General Election has attracted a large number of people. In many Regions the registration of Voters is over 90% as indicated on the table below:
4.2 Establishment of the Permanent National Voters’ Register (PNVR)
In the past elections, registration of voters was done manually using temporary registers. People had to be registered again whenever an election was to be conducted. After the elections the papers/register had to be destroyed. Immediately after 1995 General Election, the Commission recommended to the Government the establishment of the Permanent National Voters Register (PNVR). The recommendation was accepted but the registration in PNVR could not start in time for the 2000 elections due to lack of funds.
The preparations for PNVR for 2005 General Election and subsequent elections, commenced in March 2004 and finally on the 7th day of October, 2004 the Commission began to register people in PNVR.
Cost Effectiveness
5.1 In the year 2000 the National Electoral Commission conducted and supervised the Presidential, Parliamentary and Councilors’ elections. For the first time, three elections were conducted simultaneously under the multi-party system thus reducing the cost of elections considerably.
5.2 During the registration of Voters in PNVR the Commission decided to conduct the exercise on a zonal basis. By doing zonal registration the Commission was able to use some of the same materials for example cameras in all the zones. This reduced the registration costs to a large amount.
ACHIEVEMENTS: 
![SAMWEL JOHN SITA [CCM]](http://nec.go.tz/wabunge/2005/CONSTITUENCIES/29036/PIC29036.jpg)
