Voters reported to sell their rights

Voters reported to sell their rights


at Tsh 10,000

By Arusha Times Reporter



There is a new election-related racket taking place in Arusha town whereby some unknown people move from house to house buying or hiring voters’ cards from original holders.



“We are very aware of these latest strategies by some politicians here who are working hard to ensure that they get control of people’s voting powers,” said Mr Matei Basilio the Regional Police commander who added that his force was already investigating the issue.



“But at the end of the day it is the owners of the voters’ ID cards that who should refuse to sell their documents as well as report such incidences to the police,” said Mr Basilio.



But with good money being involved in the transactions it is becoming apparent that few people will be in a hurry to report their ‘customers’ to the law.



Investigations conducted in town reveal that a single voter’s identity card could be hired out at between 5000/- and 10,000/- with agreement that whoever takes them, return the document immediately after the general elections set for October 31, 2010.



A person could totally let go of his or her voting card by selling off the document at prices starting from 15,000/- upwards depending on either the individual’s bargaining power or the financial muscle of the customers or the parties they happen to represent in the transaction.



“Many of the ID buyers ,it has been discovered ,are merely agents sent by politicians or party supporters to ensure that people in the areas where their candidates are least supported go without voters’ cards,” said the Police boss.



Meanwhile the police force here said they are completing initial investigations on claims that one of the local ward representative aspirants had allegedly caused chaos at the bus station a few days ago.



An aspirant was arrested by the police late last week for allegedly causing chaos at the main bus station in town where he reportedly went round calling upon people to stop paying local government taxes.