Tanzania

Overview of the Act

• Objective:
  To provide for the regulation of Presidential, Parliamentary, and Councillors’ elections, repealing the National Elections Act, 1985 and the Local Authorities Elections Act, 1979, and to address all related electoral matters.

• The Act does not explicitly define political violence, but it does outline penalties for acts of political violence, specifically during the election process.

Provision on Political Violence

Section 135:

• States that any person who, during the election process, commits sexual harassment or violence against a candidate:

“Commits an offence and shall, upon conviction in accordance with the Electoral Code of Conduct, be liable to the penalty in accordance with such Code.”

Penalties Under the Electoral Code of Conduct

Code Provision 13 outlines a range of sanctions:

(1) Primary Penalties:

• (a) Warning or reprimand

• (b) Order to amend or correct the violation

• (c) Order to publicly apologise through a widely circulated media outlet

• (d) Public announcement naming the offender, describing the violation, and issuing a warning not to repeat it

(2) Additional Penalties for Severe or Repeated Violations:

If the offender:

• (a) Continues to violate the Code after punishment

• (b) Refuses to comply with the penalty

• (c) Commits a violation with severe consequences
  Then the offender may be further punished under the Political Parties Act