In a stunning escalation of pre-election measures, President Samia Suluhu Hassan warned on Wednesday that authorities would “arrest all spoilt votes” if they attempt to undermine the integrity of the upcoming general elections scheduled for October 29.
Speaking at a rally in the capital, President Hassan declared, “We have already secured the nation by detaining those who sought to sow chaos through opposition. Now, the spoilt votes – those invalid marks of confusion – will not be spared. They will be rounded up and held accountable before they can rig the results from the shadows.
“The remarks come amid heightened tensions, with independent observers predicting that spoilt votes could emerge as the second-largest “contestant” in the presidential race, potentially surpassing several minor parties. Official projections from the National Electoral Commission (NEC) suggest spoilt ballots may garner up to 15% of the total vote, fueled by voter frustration over complex ballot designs and last-minute changes to voting procedures.
Government spokesperson Gerson Msigwa defended the president’s statement as a “necessary safeguard for democracy.” In a press briefing, Msigwa explained, “Spoilt votes are not innocent errors; they are deliberate acts of sabotage by elements opposed to progress. Just as we neutralized the opposition leaders who were plotting from their hideouts, we will not allow these phantom votes to steal the people’s mandate.”
Critics, however, were quick to decry the threat as absurd and authoritarian. Renowned election monitor Prof. Amina Juma of the Tanzania Voters’ Observatory called it “a new low in electoral absurdity.” Speaking from exile in Nairobi, she said, “Arresting spoilt votes? This is what happens when a regime runs out of real enemies. First the opposition, now scribbles on paper. What’s next – handcuffing empty ballot boxes?”
Human rights groups have mobilized, with Amnesty International issuing a statement urging international observers to monitor polling stations for any “unusual detentions of invalid ballots.” Local activists have begun a satirical social media campaign under the hashtag #FreeTheSpoiltVotes, featuring mock mugshots of crumpled ballot papers.
Impossible Task, but must be done
The NEC has yet to clarify the logistics of the arrests. Commission chairman Justice Anna Mlay promised a technical briefing, stating, “We are developing protocols to identify and apprehend high-risk spoilt votes, particularly those with excessive ink blots or mismatched ticks.”
President Hassan’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party remains the frontrunner, with polls showing a commanding lead. Political analysts attribute this to the absence of key opposition figures, who were detained in nationwide sweeps last month on charges of “inciting electoral disorder.”
As polling day approaches, security forces have been deployed to major vote-counting centers, equipped with what officials describe as “ballot integrity scanners.” Dar es Salaam residents report seeing unmarked vans patrolling urban wards, prompting whispers of a preemptive “spoilt vote roundup.”
The international community has watched with concern. EU election observer mission head Lars Eriksson remarked, “Tanzania’s commitment to clean elections is commendable, but arresting votes sets a dangerous precedent. We urge restraint – or at least a fair trial for the ballots.”
President Hassan concluded her rally speech with a rallying cry: “Together, we will vote wisely, or the spoilt ones will face justice!” The crowd erupted in cheers, chanting “Hapa kuna maelewano!” – a nod to her signature phrase.
With just five days until the elections, Tanzania braces for what could be the most closely guarded – and peculiar – vote in its history.
