Zanzibar Electoral Commission

Updated Feb 2008

Article 119 of the 1984 Constitution of Zanzibar and the Election Act of 1984 make provision for the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) responsible for conducting Zanzibari presidential and parliamentary elections (Constitution 1984, Articles 119-120; Election Act 1984, 4-10). Local government elections in Zanzibar are conducted by the National Electoral Commission of Tanzania.

Composition

Article 119(1) of the Constitution stipulates that the president of Zanzibar has the power to appoint the Chairperson of the Commission and other members of the Commission as specified by the Act of the House of Representatives.

The Composition of the New Commission in 2004, as per the 8th and 9th Constitutional amendments, is as follows:

The Chairman who is a Judge in the High Court of any Commonwealth Country or a respected person in society.
Two Commissioners appointed by the President, with the recommendation of the leader of government activities in the House of Representatives. The leader of government activities is the Zanzibar Chief Minister.
Two Commissioners appointed by the President with the recommendation of the leader of the opposition in the House of Representatives.
One Commissioner from among the Judges of the High Court or Court of appeal.
One Commissioner appointed by the President as he sees fit.

The members of the ZEC may only be removed if a Special Commission, appointed by the President, recommends a commissioner's removal, and then only if the commissioner is unable to perform the functions allocated or for misconduct (Constitution 1984, Article 119(5)-(8)).

Term of Office

The term of office is 5 years (Constitution 1984, Article 119(4)(a)).

Members

Khatib MK Mwinyichande: Chairperson
Nassor Khamis
Mwanabaraka Maalim: Commissioner
Omar O Makungu: Commissioner
Ayoub Bakari Hamad: Commissioner
Said Bakari Jecha: Commissioner
Abrahman Rashid

Director of Elections

The Director of Elections assists the ZEC in the planning and execution of its policies (Constitution 1984, Article 119(9); Election Act 1984, 7). The current Director is Salum K Ali.

Autonomy

The ZEC is not obliged to take instructions from any external body (Constitution 1984, 119(13)).

Funding

Ministry of Territorial Administration

References

CONSTITUTION OF ZANZIBAR 1984, came into effect on January 12, 1985.

ELECTION ACT 1984, as amended in 1995 and in 2002.