TANZANIA: Zanzibar electoral body says voter lists are faulty

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

DAR ES SALAAM, 21 Sep 2005 (IRIN) - At least 700 people have registered more than once to vote in Tanzania's semi-autonomous island of Zanzibar, the head of the local electoral body said on Tuesday.

"More names are likely to be discovered," Masauni Yussuf, the chairman of the Zanzibar Electoral Commission, said in the statement. "We are still going on with the verification exercise."

Authorities recently revoked a contract with the South African firm Waymark Infotech, to audit the vote independently. Supporters of the main opposition party on the island have accused authorities of rigging previous elections and of also planning to rig this year's vote.

On 30 October, Tanzanians are to elect a new national president, parliament and ward councillors. Voters in Zanzibar and the neighbouring island Pemba will also choose a local president and parliament.

The islands have maintained a measure of political autonomy since 26 April 1964 when they first merged with the mainland, formerly known as Tanganyika, to form Tanzania.

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