MULTIPARTY SYSTEM
Multiparty Is a political system in a country where many political parties are operating legally each political party has the aim of taking power through democratic election and forming the government.
A political party. Is a group of people legally organized and registered for the purpose of forming a government. In order to have multiparty system more than one party must participate in elections and play role in the government.
Features of multiparty system.
- Citizens express their political view openly.
- Human rights are respected so citizens are free to express themselves.
- Public accountability and transparency is promoted.
- Multipartism is tolerant
- There is high level of citizen participation in political affairs.
- Citizens are allowed to form pressure groups or non government organizations.
- The actions of the state are kept constantly responsive to social and political needs.
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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF MULTIPARTY DEMOCRACY IN TANZANIA
Our country re introduced multiparty democracy in 1992. At the time of resisting colonial rule, Tanganyika had multiparty democracy. The political parties that excited at the time were United Tanganyika party ( U T P ), African national congress (A N C ). All Muslim national union of Tanganyika (A M N U T ) and Tanganyika African national union (TANU) it was the same in Zanzibar before her political independence in 1963, the political parties in Zanzibar were afro shiraz party (ASP) Zanzibar national party (ZNP) zanzinbar and pemba peoples party(ZPPP) and the short lived umma party.
The parties were well organized strong and very active in both Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Every political party was doing what was expected by its members. The 1965 constitutional changes created a one party state in both Tanganyika and Zanzibar.In Tanganyika [TANU] was the only political party while ASP was the only party in Zanzibar. From 1965 to 1992 Tanzania did not have a multiparty system.
These are political parties in Tanzania .
- Chama cha mapinduzi ( CCM)
- Civic united front (CUF)
- Chama cha democratic na maendeleo (CHADEMA)
- Tanzania labour party ( TLP)
- National convention of construction and reform (NCCR-MAGEUZI)
- Chama cha kaki na ustawi (CHAUSTA)
- United democracy party (UDP)
- Jahazi asilia
- Progressive party of Tanzania (PPT)
- Democratic party (DP)
- Tanzania democratic allaiance (TADEA)
- Sauti ya umma (SAU).
- National league for democracy party (NLDP)
- National reconstruction alliance (NRA)
- Democrasia makini.
- Forum for restoration of democracy. ( FORD)
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Union for multi party democracy (UMD)
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PARTICIPATION OF STUDENTS IN DEMOCRATIC ACTIVITIES
Student participation may take many forms including;
- Standing for elections for example for school or club representation.
- Voting for leaders or issuing school or club elections
- Joining a political party if one qualifies to do so.
- Taking part in the work of the political party.
- Staying informed about what is happening in parliament.
- Debating matters relating to democracy.
- Attend community or civic meetings.
- Expressing their opinions i.e. in their peer to peer group meetings in schools.
- Participating in youth organizations in the community
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Helping to educate the community on their democratic rights i.e. through songs.
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Democratic elections
Meaning and indicators of democratic elections
Election is the process of choosing a person by vote, especially for political positions where by citizens is given an opportunity to choose a person to lead them.
Democratic elections therefore are elections that involve principles of democracy such as;
- Equal treatment of the participants
- Political tolerance
- Freedom of expression
- Taking part in the campaigns
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Freedom of assembly and sharing ideas
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Indicators of democratic elections
These are four indicators including the following:
- Free and fair election campaigns.
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Election campaigns are series of political meetings designed to win voters for a certain candidate political party and proposal. In these meetings candidates present their policies, promises, and programmers. Citizens are free to ask questions on issues they do not understand or that need elaboration from contestants. This enables them to make the right choice in the elections.
2. All political parties are given equal opportunities.
The equal opportunities given to them include the following;
- The political parties and their nominees must be heard equally.
- The mass media gives equal coverage to all candidates of different political parties.
- TVs and radio stations air the views of candidates equally
- The print media such as news papers and journals publications the policies of political parties equally.
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The government in power allows opposition parties to operate freely
3.
Code of ethics for elections
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This is an agreement between the national electoral commission, the government and the political parties. The purpose of this agreement is to certain fairness, mutual understanding and guarantee peace and harmony throughout the electoral process. The areas addressed in the code of conduct are:
- Ethics for political parties and candidates
- The government of Tanzania
- National electoral commission
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The NEC is responsible for planning supervising and conducting elections that are free and fair.
4. Frequency election/Election interval.
The general election of the president and members of parliament is conducted after every five years.
Importance of democratic elections.
It is the responsibility of every qualified citizen to vote in order to bring about change:
- To chose officials to fill posts in political parties and the central government and the local government.
- To strengthen democracy in a country as a leader ship changed peacefully
- To create an acceptable government
- To put in power the most popular representatives and party.
- To decide in important issues of the country
- To guarantee continuous representations and accountability in the country of the elected leader.
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How free and fair elections are ensured in Tanzania
Indicators of free and fair elections:
Election conditions.
- Are held after every five years as per constitution
- Many political parties complete in the elections for different vacant seats in the central and local government these parties are treated equally.
- The right to vote is for every citizen who qualifies
- Voting is done secretly no one is forced to vote for a candidate against his or her own choice.
- Civic education is provided to voters so as to be aware of their constitutional rights in voting
- There are electoral campaigns where by all contestants are given enough time to visit their areas of election and publicize their policies and also allow citizens to ask questions
- There is political tolerance
- Results are respected especially those who have not won
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Election petitions are allowed that is an election of any candidate may be challenged in a court of law.
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Election procedures.
NEC is responsible for general elections. Supervise and co ordinate the following:
- Registration of voters on presidential parliamentary and civic elections
- The conduct of the presidential and parliamentary elections.
- Review boundaries of various areas for the purpose of parliamentary elections
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Perform other functions in accordance to the law.
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Conditions for candidates in general elections.
Candidates are citizens who contest a seat in elections; they must qualify according to the national constitution.
Conditions for presidential candidates.
The candidate must be:
- A citizen of the united republic of Tanzania by birth.
- Aged to 40 years
- A member of and a candidate nominated by apolitical party
- Member of parliament or the house of representatives
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Nominated by 200 supporters who are registered as voters from each of ten regions two of which must be in Zanzibar.
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Conditions for parliamentary candidates.
- Be a citizen aged 21 years and above and can read and write in Kiswahili and English
- Be a member of and sponsored by a political party
- Have not less than 25 supporters who are registered as voters in the relevant constituencies.
- Make a strategy declaration that he or she has all the qualifications required for being a candidate.
- Deposit Tsh 50000 with the NEC
- Should not have been convicted by any court for offense of evading tax
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Conditions for voters.
- Be a citizen of Tanzania
- Be registered as a voter
- Be 18 years or above
- Be a person of sound mind
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Not have been detained in a lawful custody within the proceeding of five years.
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THE SPIRIT OF TOLERANCE
Before elections.
Registration. Is the process of being identified as a voter, a voter card must be obtained before voting. The purpose is to make sure that no one votes twice and that each voter is eligible to vote Tanzania introduced permanent voter’s registrars in January 2000.
Campaigns are carried out as part of the initial election activities, during this time candidates of different parties hold meetings to tell people about their party and convince people to vote for them.
Polling day.
Polling day is the day on which people vote in an election, the following takes place on a polling day.
- Once voters arrive at a polling station they present their voters cards. Their names are checked in the voter’s registrar.
- Voters are given a ballot paper on which they cast their votes. They go into the voting booth, this place where they make A-Mark on the ballot paper. Voters read the ballot paper carefully and place a mark next to the party or candidate for whom they wish to vote for.
- All voters are secret in the voting booth. There is no one allowed to see where the voters mark the ballot paper.
- Voters placed the folded ballot paper into ballot boxes
- The voter’s fingers are marked in dye by an official. This is to make sure that each person only votes once.
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The voters show tolerance by obeying orders and procedures of voting.
Vote counting.
When voting is over at the polling stations counting of votes begin. A designated official breaks the seal of the ballot boxes and opens the box in front of the political party’s agent and neutral monitors, sometimes international monitors are present. Each ballot paper is examined and counted by a ballot clerk with the monitors watching and checking on the counting. The spoilt ballot papers are kept aside.
A tolerance is shown during this stage when the monitors and agents do not just interrupt the counting process.
Declaration of the results.
The results are announced on the spot. Party agents sign special result forms to confirm they have witnessed the vote counting process and accept the results, a copy of the results are posted outside the polling station. This is done to ensure transparency and avoid the possibility of election rigging. All the results from the polling stations are worked on by the area returning officer he or she tallies them and announces the winner.
Results for the presidential elections are announced by the chair person of the National Electoral Commission. In the spirit of tolerance defeated candidates should accept defeat and the results. The supporters too should accept the results.
By elections
These are elections which may be held to fill parliamentary or council seats which become vacant between general elections. They are conducted when any of the following takes place:
- A member of parliament or council dies
- A member of parliament or council resigns
- Parliament is dissolved before the end of its time
- A member of parliament fails to discharge his or her duties.
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