Citizens living abroad could be allowed to vote

THE Minister of State (President’s Office) Dr Mwinyihaji Makame Mwadini

TANZANIANS living abroad will be allowed to vote when a law allowing dual citizenship is enacted, the Minister of State (President’s Office) Dr Mwinyihaji Makame Mwadini, has said.

Winding-up the debate on the 50.3bn/- President’s Office Budget, the minister said that the issue of allowing Tanzanians living abroad to vote will be considered after changing of the laws.

The minister also promised that his ministry would work on concerns including questionable allocation of funds and hitches in acquiring Zanzibar resident Identity Cards (Zan-IDs) as raised by several legislators.

House Speaker Pandu Ameir Kificho yesterday extended the session for almost three hours beyond the regular time as Mr Mwadini helped by other ministers pressed to have the President’s Office budget approved. 

Mr Mwadini was forced to withdraw 40m/- and withhold 150m/- from his budget after a controversy emerged over purchase of a generator and use of the funds in a Egypt/Zanzibar research firm project. The legislators pressed the government to be keen in using public funds in refurbishing the state house. “I promise to work on your concerns,” the minister said.

Responding on the issue of Zan-IDs which dominated the budget debate, the state minister said that his office would work hard to solve the grievances. “But I ask people to avoid cheating by using fake birth certificates, affidavits, and the public should help in identifying non Zanzibaris including non citizens of Tanzania possessing the IDs.”

However, the minister said there were 112,420 un-collected Zan-IDs in district offices, asking owners to collect them. He said his office had identified 14 foreigners mainly Kenyans who obtained the Zan-Ids illegally. “Anybody with information about illegal possession of Zan-IDs by foreigners should tip relevant authorities for investigation, we should all protect our IDs,” he said.  

Published on Wednesday, 04 July 2012 04:55

Written by ISSA YUSSUF in Zanzibar

source: DAILY NEWS