U.S. Comments on Tanzanian Election Process
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
November 3, 2000
STATEMENT BY RICHARD BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN
TANZANIA: CREDIBILITY OF ZANZIBAR ELECTIONS
The United Republic of Tanzania held national elections October 29.
Popular participation was impressive and the electoral process
throughout the Tanzanian mainland was praised by outside observers for
being fair and well organized.
Unfortunately the elections were marred by numerous irregularities in
the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar. There were well-documented
instances of delayed openings of polling stations, shortages of voting
materials and tampering with ballot boxes. There were also instances
of the police having used excessive force.
As a close friend of Tanzania, we congratulate them on the elections
on the mainland; however, we are deeply concerned about the failures
of the electoral process on Zanzibar. We call on the Government of
Tanzania to investigate the irregularities fully and to bring those
responsible to justice. We also believe the government should consult
with political and civil society leaders to adopt a transparent and
participatory approach to re-establish the legitimacy of the electoral
process in Zanzibar. The United States stands ready to assist these
efforts in any way we can.
Finally, we call on the government and all political and civil society
groups to work together to maintain calm in Zanzibar and to avoid any
resort to violence.
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