Post-Election Technical Assessment Report: Tanzania Peace and Election Program

The program was implemented from June 1, 2015, to November 20, 2016, under the Associate Cooperative Agreement AID-621-LA-15-00001. The program's primary objective was to enhance the capacity of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) and the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) to conduct free, fair, and transparent elections. The 2015 presidential and general elections in Tanzania were considered the most competitive since the country returned to multi-party elections in 1992. The opposition parties united and fielded a single candidate for president, and all parliamentary seats were contested. The elections were unique in several ways, particularly because the outcome of the presidential elections was not easily predicted. The NEC and ZEC received technical support from CEPPS/IFES, which deployed two consultants to Tanzania to undertake pre- and post-election assessments. The pre-election assessment aimed to identify areas where additional technical support could be useful in the short and long-term. The assessment covered various performance indicators, including voter registration, the legal framework, results transmission and management, election technology, electoral dispute resolution, voter and civic education, and the engagement of women, youth, and persons with disabilities. Preliminary reports from election observers described the 2015 elections as generally peaceful and orderly. A joint statement issued by the election observer missions of the Commonwealth, SADC, the African Union, and the European Union affirmed the credibility of the voting process. The Tanzania Election Monitoring Committee (TEMCO) reported that the 2015 general elections, with the exception of the Zanzibar elections, were well-managed and the outcomes reflected the will of the electorates. However, the preparation and conduct of elections were not without challenges. The ZEC's nullification of the polls in Zanzibar and the ensuing political crisis were major concerns. The major opposition parties on the mainland strongly challenged the credibility of Tanzania's elections, claiming widespread rigging. The NEC was also criticized for its lack of transparency in several aspects of electoral preparations and for the delays in the tallying of votes. Its perceived lack of independence and impartiality continued to be the opposition's most serious grievance. The NEC was commended for conducting peaceful and well-administered polls and for professionally, responsibly, and diligently executing its mandate within the ambit of the law. International observers praised the NEC and the ZEC for their competent and efficient management of Election Day. However, the NEC's lack of transparency and perceived lack of independence and impartiality remained major concerns. The program's recommendations aimed to address these challenges and enhance the NEC's capacity to conduct free, fair, and transparent elections.