Tanzania's electoral authority to educate youth on voting, election laws

Tanzanians queue to cast their votes in the presidential election, at a polling station in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Oct. 25, 2015. [AP]

Tanzania's National Electoral Commission (NEC) said Tuesday plans are underway to educate the youth on voting and election laws across the East African nation.

Monica Mnanka, NEC's assistant director for Voters Education, said education on voting and election laws will help the youth understand that winning or losing is part of the electoral process.

She said the electoral body recognized the importance of providing education on electoral laws for young people.

Mnanka said for an election to be successful and democratic, voters must understand their rights and responsibilities, and they must be sufficiently knowledgeable and well-informed to cast ballots that are legally valid and participate meaningfully in the voting process.

She added that NEC was providing education to political parties, stakeholders and various institutions with the aim of building their understanding capacity of election laws and how election activities are conducted.

Mnanka was reacting to the advice given to NEC by Chief Court Administrator Elisante Ole Gabriel who urged the electoral body to consider providing voting and election laws education to young people in order.