Dar Es- Salaam---Tanzania begins a week-long voter registration process on February 23 for both a constitutional referendum and general elections, the National Electoral Commission said Friday.
Top NEC official Julius Malaba said "preparations are going on well" for registration for both the referendum on April 30 and parliamentary and presidential elections in October.
But opposition politicians said there was too little time, along with a lack of understanding about how to use the biometric voter registration (BVR) kits, being introduced for the first time in the east African nation.
"Many Tanzanians have not been educated on BVR system, we need more time," said Ibrahim Lipumba, leader of the opposition Civic United Front (CUF).
President Jakaya Kikwete's ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party has been in power since independence in 1961, and holds two-thirds of seats in the assembly.
Having served two terms in power, Kikwete cannot run again.
The opposition objects to the proposed constitution, saying it makes few major changes to the structure of government and has consequently rejected calls for a strengthening of the federal system to limit presidential powers.
AFP
