Info

Zanzibar

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Boundary Delimitation

BD001

Delimitation of constituencies

Question:	Are constituencies delimited for election purposes?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:	Zanzibar is divided into 50 constituencies.
Source:	Ame, Khamis A, Zanzibar Director of Elections. Electoral Commission Questionaire, Compiled by the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa.
Verified:	2002/09/18

BD003

Criteria for drawing boundaries

Question:	On what criteria are the boundaries drawn?
Answer(s):	a. "Equality" of population b. Respecting natural barriers
Comments:	"The guidelines to be followed in formulating and reviewing the constituency boundaries are set out in sub-section 3, which provides for regard to be paid to: -density of population and the need to ensure adequate representation of urban and sparsely populated areas; -population trends; -means of communication; and -geographical features..."
Source:	Elections in Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania, 29 October 2000. The Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group, p 9. Commonwealth Secretariat.
Verified:	2002/09/25

BD005

Body responsible for drawing boundaries

Question:	The body responsible for drawing the boundaries is:
Answer(s):	e. Electoral Management Body (EMB)
Comments:	The Zanzibar Electoral Commission is responsible for demarcation of constituency boundaries.
Source:	Ame, Khamis A, Zanzibar Director of Elections. Electoral Commission Questionaire, Compiled by the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa.
Verified:	2009/08/12

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Electoral Systems

ES001

Head of State

Question:	How is the Head of State selected?
Answer(s):	c. Directly elected in general elections (absolute majority with 2nd round if necessary)
Comments:	"When in the Presidential Election no candidate has obtained more than fifty percent of the total number of votes, the Commission shall, by notice published in the Gazette appoint some other convenient day, for the second ballot of the Presidential Election."
Source:	Zanzibar Electoral Act No. 11 of 1984, including ammendments made by Act No. 8 of 1992; Act No 14 of 1992, and Act No. 5 of 1995. 15th May, 1995. Chapter III, Part II, (42).
Verified:	2002/09/17

ES002

Head of Government

Question:	How is the Head of Government selected?
Answer:	b. Directly elected in general elections, absolute majority (with 2nd round if necessary)
Comments:	The president is both head of state and head of government for matters internal to Zanzibar. Election of the president requires greater the 50% of votes cast, with a second round if necessary.
Source:	Zanzibar Electoral Act No. 11 of 1984, including ammendments made by Act No. 8 of 1992; Act No 14 of 1992, and Act No. 5 of 1995. 15th May, 1995.
Verified:	2002/09/23

ES003

President

Question:	Does the country have a president?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Constitution of Zanzibar.
Verified:	2002/09/23

ES004

Number of Chambers

Question:	The national legislature consists of (one/two chambers):
Answer:	b. Two chambers
Comments:
Source:	Constitution of Zanzibar. Translated from Kiswahili by the Zanzibar Electoral Commission.
Verified:	2009/08/12

ES005

Electoral System (Chamber 1)

Question:	What is the electoral system for Chamber 1 of the national legislature?
Answer(s):	a. Plurality (FPTP) h. Mixed Member Proportional
Comments:	"First Past the Post and Proportional Representation for Women seats in the House of Representatives."
Source:	Ame, Khamis A, Zanziber Director of Elections. Electoral Commission Questionaire, Compiled by the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa
Verified:	2002/09/18

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Legislative Framework

LF001

Status of Electoral Law

Question:	What is the status of the electoral law governing national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Part of Constitution b. Separate legislation
Comments:
Source:	Zanzibar Electoral Act No. 11 of 1984, including ammendments made by Act No. 8 of 1992; Act No 14 of 1992, and Act No. 5 of 1995. 15th May, 1995.
Verified:	2009/08/12

LF003

Electoral Law covers

Question:	The national electoral law covers:
Answer(s):	a. National elections c. Local elections
Comments:	The Electoral Act N0. 11 of 1984 covers elections for the President, the House of Representatives, and local authorities.
Source:	Zanzibar Electoral Act No. 11 of 1984, including ammendments made by Act No. 8 of 1992; Act No 14 of 1992, and Act No. 5 of 1995. 15th May, 1995.
Verified:	2002/09/20

LF004

Compulsory/voluntary voting

Question:	Is voting on the national level voluntary or compulsory?
Answer(s):	a. Voting is voluntary
Comments:	Neither the Electoral law nor the constitution state that voting is compulsory.
Source:	Zanzibar Electoral Act No. 11 of 1984, including amendments made by Act No. 8 of 1992; Act No 14 of 1992, and Act No. 5 of 1995. 15th May, 1995. Ame, Khamis A., Electoral Commission Questionnaire, Compiled by the Electoral Institue of Southern Africa.
Verified:	2006/11/21

LF007

Electoral Disputes Agency(ies)

Question:	What are the agency(ies) responsible for the first level of formal electoral disputes?
Answer(s):	a. Judiciary
Comments:	"Every election petition shall be tried by the High Court in accordance with the provision of this Act."
Source:	Zanzibar Electoral Act No. 11 of 1984, including ammendments made by Act No. 8 of 1992; Act No 14 of 1992, and Act No. 5 of 1995. 15th May, 1995. Chapter VIII, 115 (1).
Verified:	2002/09/20

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Electoral Management

EM001

Please provide the following contact information for the national electoral management body:

Name of Institution 	Zanzibar Electoral Commission
Full Address 	P.O. Box 1001, Zanzibar
Telephone 	255-24-2231489
Facsimile 	255024-2233828
Email 	zec@Twiga.com
Website Address 	
Name and Title of Chairperson/President 	Khamis A. Ame, Director of Elections
Information Officer 	
Official language of the electoral law governing national elections 	Kiswahili

Source

Ame, Khamis A, Zanzibar Director of Elections. Electoral Commission Questionaire, Compiled by the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa.

Verified

2009/08/12

(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)

EM002

Responsibility of national EMB

Question:	Does the national electoral body have the responsibility for elections at:
Answer(s):	a. National level c. Local level
Comments:	"The [Zanzibar Electoral] Commission shall be responsible the the over-all supervision of the general conduct of all Presidential, Member of the House of Representatives, and Local Authorities and elections in Zanzibar."
Source:	Zanzibar Electoral Act No. 11 of 1984, including ammendments made by Act No. 8 of 1992; Act No 14 of 1992, and Act No. 5 of 1995. 15th May, 1995. Chapter I, (5.).
Verified:	2002/09/18

EM004

EMB budget determined by

Question:	The budget of the national electoral management body is determined by:
Answer(s):	c. The legislature
Comments:
Source:	Constitution of Zanzibar, Section 7 (4). Translated from Kiswahili by the Zanzibar Electoral Commission.
Verified:	2002/09/25

EM005

EMB expenditures controlled by

Question:	The expenditures of the national electoral management body are controlled by:
Answer(s):	g. Other
Comments:	The Zanzibar electoral commission controls its own expenditures. "In discharging its functions in accordance with the provisions of this constitution, the Electoral Commission shall not be obliged to comply with orders or directions of any person or any Government department or the views of any political party."
Source:	8th Constitutional Ammendment, Constitution of Zanzibar, Section 119 (12). Translated from Kiswahili by the Zanzibar Electoral Commission.
Verified:	2008/01/21

EM006

Term of EMB members

Question:	The term of the members of the national electoral management body is:
Answer:	b. For a specified number of years
Comments:	Members of the Election Commission are appointed for 5 year terms.
Source:	Constitution of Zanzibar, Section 119 (4). Translated from Kiswahili by the Zanzibar Electoral Commission.
Verified:	2002/09/25

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Voter Education

VE001

Information campaigns performed by

Question:	Who conducts information campaigns for national elections (informing where, when and how to register and/or vote)?
Answer(s):	a. National Electoral Management Body k. Other
Comments:	The Electoral Commission conducts voter education training with the assistance of a voter education committee.
Source:	Ame, Khamis A, Zanzibar Director of Elections. Electoral Commission Questionaire, Compiled by the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa.
Verified:	2002/09/18

VE002

Frequency of voter education programs

Question:	At the national level, how often are voter education programs conducted?
Answer:	b. Election time only
Comments:
Source:	Elections in Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania, 29 October 2000. The Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group, p 9-10. Commonwealth Secretariat.
Verified:	2002/09/23

VE003

National civic education

Question:	Is there a national civic education campaign (rights and responsibilities of citizens)?
Answer(s):	a. No
Comments:	Law does not assign the responsibility of conducting Civic Education to any Institution. However, the commission feels obliged to conduct voter education only.
Source:	The Eastern and Southern African Research Programme, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Verified:	2002/12/17

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Voter Registration

VR001

Voting age

Question:	What is the legal voting age in the national elections?
Answer:	c. 18
Comments:
Source:	Zanzibar Electoral Act No. 11 of 1984, including ammendments made by Act No. 8 of 1992; Act No 14 of 1992, and Act No. 5 of 1995. 15th May, 1995. Chapter II, Part I (11).
Verified:	2002/09/18

VR002

Other voting requirements

Question:	Beyond age, what other qualifications exist for registering to vote and voting in the national elections?
Answer(s):	a. Citizenship
Comments:
Source:	Zanzibar Electoral Act No. 11 of 1984, including ammendments made by Act No. 8 of 1992; Act No 14 of 1992, and Act No. 5 of 1995. 15th May, 1995. Chapter II, Part I (11).
Verified:	2002/09/18

VR004

Body responsible for voter registration

Question:	Which is the authority responsible for the registration of voters for national elections?
Answer:	d. Election Management Body (specify)
Comments:	The Zanzibar Electoral Commission directs local registration officers. "Where an election is to take place in any constituency, the Commission may, at any time within six months before the date of such election, direct the Registration Officer in charge of such constituency to make available at each and every polling district within the constituency, facilities for the registration of voters."
Source:	Zanzibar Electoral Act No. 11 of 1984, including ammendments made by Act No. 8 of 1992; Act No 14 of 1992, and Act No. 5 of 1995. 15th May, 1995. Chapter II, Part II (16).
Verified:	2002/09/18

VR008

Compulsory voter registration

Question:	Is it compulsory to be on the voters register?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:	Niether the constitution nor the electoral law require voter registration.
Source:	Zanzibar Electoral Act No. 11 of 1984, including ammendments made by Act No. 8 of 1992; Act No 14 of 1992, and Act No. 5 of 1995. 15th May, 1995. 8th Constitutional Ammendment, Constitution of Zanzibar. Translated from Kiswahili by the Zanzibar Electoral Commission. Ame, Khamis A, Zanzibar Director of Elections. Electoral Commission Questionaire, Compiled by the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa.
Verified:	2003/02/03

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Voting Operations

VO003

Electors vote at

Question:	Where can electors vote?
Answer(s):	a. At a specified polling station in the locality where they are registered at national elections
Comments:	"Every voter who wishes to vote shall present himself at the polling station allocated to him in the polling district for which he is registered..."
Source:	Zanzibar Electoral Act No. 11 of 1984, including ammendments made by Act No. 8 of 1992; Act No 14 of 1992, and Act No. 5 of 1995. 15th May, 1995. Chapter 6, Part II, 68 (3).
Verified:	2002/09/19

VO004

Voting outside the country is permitted for

Question:	Who can vote from outside the country?
Answer(s):	a. Outside the country voting is not permitted
Comments:	The electoral law makes no provision for voting outside of Zanzibar. "Every voter who wishes to vote shall present himself at the polling station allocated to him in the polling district for which he is registered..."
Source:	Zanzibar Electoral Act No. 11 of 1984, including ammendments made by Act No. 8 of 1992; Act No 14 of 1992, and Act No. 5 of 1995. 15th May, 1995. Chapter 6, Part II, 68 (3).
Verified:	2002/09/19

VO005

Locations for voting outside of the country

Question:	If voting outside the country is permitted, at what places?
Answer(s):	h. Not applicable
Comments:	Voting outside the country is not permitted.
Source:
Verified:	2009/08/12

VO011

Voting method

Question:	How do electors cast their votes?
Answer(s):	a. Manually marking of ballots
Comments:	"a voter shall record his vote by putting a mark against the name of the candidate for whom he wishes to vote thereby recording no more than one vote..."
Source:	Zanzibar Electoral Act No. 11 of 1984, including ammendments made by Act No. 8 of 1992; Act No 14 of 1992, and Act No. 5 of 1995. 15th May, 1995. Chapter VI, Part II, 68 (3).
Verified:	2002/09/19

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Parties and Candidates

PC001

Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	a. Signature requirement (specify requirement) c. Regional distribution requirement
Comments:	200 Trustees representing each of the Country's 10 regions, one of which must be Pemba and another Unguja -To submit a provisional list of the National leaders of the party from both Tanzania mainland and the Isles. -To submit to the registrar the location of its head office within the United Republic -To provide a postal address to which notice and other communications may be sent. -Successful application for temporary registration
Source:	The Eastern and Southern African Research Programme, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Verified:	2002/12/17

PC003

Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)

Question:	What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	b. Citizenship f. Registration j. Other
Comments:	-Represent about 100,000 people on the mainland or 10,000 in Zanzibar. -A member of and sponsored by a political party Tanzania citizen aged 21 years and above. -Have not less than 25 sponsors who are registered as voters in the relevant constituency -Present 4 post-card size photographs -Deposit Tsh 50,000/= -Make a statutory declaration that he is qualified as a candidate -Present nomination form before 4.00 on nomination day
Source:	The Eastern and Southern African Research Programme, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Verified:	2002/12/17

PC008

Independent candidates

Question:	Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):	c. In legislative elections (Chamber 1)
Comments:	The electoral law states that a presidential candidate must be nominated by a registered political party. A candidate for legislative elections must be nominated be nominated by at least 25 voters, but no party affiliation is required.
Source:	Zanzibar Electoral Act No. 11 of 1984, including ammendments made by Act No. 8 of 1992; Act No 14 of 1992, and Act No. 5 of 1995. 15th May, 1995. Chapter III, Part I, 31, and Chapter IV, Part II, 46 (1).
Verified:	2002/09/25

PC012

Public funding of parties

Question:	Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):	b. Direct c. Indirect
Comments:	"The law requires that the Government disburse at least on percent of annual gov't reccurrent budget to political parties that won presidential, house of reps. and local government seats." Zanzibar Electoral Commission. The "Directives for State Media...stated that 'all contesting political parties will be given equal airtime in the State Radio and Television.'" Commonwealth Observer Group.
Source:	Khamis A. Ame, Director of Elections, Zanzibar Electoral Commission. Electoral Commission Questionnaire, Compiled by the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa. Elections in Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania, 29 October 2000. The Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group, p 21-22. Commonwealth Secretariat.
Verified:	2002/09/23

PC015

Basis of public funding

Question:	What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):	b. Based on result of previous election
Comments:	"The law requires that the Government disburse at least on percent of annual gov't reccurrent budget to political parties that won presidential, house of reps. and local government seats."
Source:	Khamis A. Ame, Director of Elections, Zanzibar Electoral Commission. Electoral Commission Questionnaire, Compiled by the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa.
Verified:	2002/09/20

PC017

Private funding of parties

Question:	Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:	b. No
Comments:
Source:	Khamis A. Ame, Director of Elections, Zanzibar Electoral Commission. Electoral Commission Questionnaire, Compiled by the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa.
Verified:	2009/08/12

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Vote Counting

VC004

Voters are sorted/counted at

Question:	Following the close of the voting, where are the votes first sorted and counted?
Answer:	a. The polling stations
Comments:
Source:	Ame, Khamis A, Zanzibar Director of Elections. Electoral Commission Questionaire, Compiled by the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa.
Verified:	2009/08/12

VC011

Conditions for recount

Question:	Under what conditions are ballots recounted?
Answer(s):	d. By request
Comments:	Votes are automatically recounted if a candidate requires only one more vote in order to be elected. "Where an equality of votes is found to exist between the candidates in a contested election so that an addition of a vote would entitle any of them to be declared elected, the Returning officer shall make a recount of the votes cast." Zanzibar Electoral Act "Recounting can be done a) at the polling station b) at the constituency on request from a party agent or candidate."
Source:	Zanzibar Electoral Act No. 11 of 1984, including ammendments made by Act No. 8 of 1992; Act No 14 of 1992, and Act No. 5 of 1995. 15th May, 1995. Chapter VI, Part II, 84(1). Ame, Khamis A, Zanzibar Director of Elections. Electoral Commission Questionaire, Compiled by the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa.
Verified:	2009/08/12

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Media and Elections

ME037

ME059

ME062

ME080

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Direct Democracy

DD002

DD003

DD004

DD005

DD006

DD007

DD129

DD130

DD131