The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has dished out
USD 22.5 million to support Tanzania National Electoral Commission (NEC) and
the Zanzibar Election Commission (ZEC) as the country prepares for the 2015
general elections.
According to the UNDP statement read yesterday by the UNDP
Resident Coordinator in Tanzania, Alberic Kacou, the signing of the Democratic
Empowerment Project document will take place ahead of the project's first
steering committee meeting.
According
to the statement, the project will support NEC and ZEC in improving their ICT,
support their strategic plans, human rights, train the Police, and provide
voters’ education as well as disseminating information via community radios and
support community dialogues.
“UNDP
is honored to respond to government's request to support preparations for the
2015 general elections and we will do so with a record of successful support in
the past including in the 2010 general elections when we provided technical
assistance to the government and others,” said the UNDP Resident Coordinator.
He said
along with funds from UNDP, other donors so far committed are Norway, Sweden,
Ireland, and Finland (through the UN One Fund), Canada, UK, EU, Denmark and
Switzerland through agreements with UNDP.
The
statement further said that the Democratic Empowerment Project will build on an
existing strong partnership between UNDP and the government of Tanzania, NEC,
ZEC, Donor Development Partners and others.
“UNDP
in Tanzania is committed to long term, sustainable support to democratic
development in Tanzania through the full 5-year election cycle, this election
cycle support approach is in recognition of free and fair elections is the only
one element of democratic development and democratic practice,” noted the
statement.
The
statement ended by quoting President Jakaya Kikwete saying, “Democracy is the
freedom of people to express their views without any interference,” adding
that, “UNDP project is launched in this spirit.”
The
Guardian