Parties free to form alliances

Tuesday, 12 March 2013 22:49

By Polycarp MachiraThe Citizen ReporterDar es Salaam.Political parties will be free to form alliances to contest in the next General Election as part of efforts to widen the democratic space and increase competition in the political field in the country.

Registrar of Political Parties John Tendwa told The Citizen that process to amend the relevant laws have started to provide for a legal mandate for political alliances hitherto deemed illegal.

These laws include the Political Parties Act No 5 of 1992 which does not provide for the formation of alliances ahead of elections - as it is practised in Kenya - unless political parties intent of coming together dissolve themselves first and come up with a “new” party altogether.

Despite the concern that alliances could be used to foster religious and tribal political blocs, analysts think the fresh development is the only way to counter the continued hegemony of the ruling party.

Dr Mohamed Bakari from the University of Dar es Salaam says allowing political alliances and the ongoing constitutional reforms should also facilitate the transition to true multiparty democracy, which, according to him, is yet to be attained in Tanzania.