Dar es Salaam — The stage is set for the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi to record massive victory in the local government election set for next month, thanks for financial problems facing opposition political parties.

With about a month to go, opposition parties have been complaining of lack of funds to conduct campaigns ahead of the civic polls.

As elections are scheduled for October 25, representatives of various political parties who spoke to this newspaper, said their parties have no funds to finance the election, leaving candidates to raise own funds from their supporters.

Commenting on his party's economic situation, Tanzania Labor Party (TLP) deputy secretary general Hammad Tao, said his party has no budget for local government election and was encouraging its candidates to 'organise themselves' with members and supporters of the party to contribute funds that will finance election campaigns and other expenses arising from it.

According to Mr Tao, TLP members all over the country are supposed to contribute cash to support their candidates because the party has no money to foot election bills.

"As you can see our party has no money and we are currently not receiving any subsidies from the Government because our sole MP, Mr Phares Kabuye, has passed away," said Mr Tao.

But he added that there is strong indication that the civic election will not be free and fair because there was no financial equity among the competing political parties. He said victory for CCM was obvious given its financial muscle.

Mr Tao called on the Government to equally subsidise political parties that participate in polls so that there is a fair play ground in elections in Tanzania.

"We urge the Government to provide at least Sh1 billion to each political party to help them to compete. Since Tanzania is democratic, then the country must pay for democracy," added Mr Tao.

Commenting on the financial challenges facing NCCR Mageuzi, the party's secretary general, Mr Samwel Ruhuza, said his party cannot afford to have candidates countrywide and would only nominate candidates where there is no other opposition flag bearer standing.

"If we find there are strong candidates for Chadema, CUF or any other opposition party, we will support them to make sure opposition wins more seats at the grassroots," said Mr Ruhuza.

The secretary general said the party cannot waste scarce resources to put up candidates in areas where the party has not established itself.

"So far, we are fighting to retain seats we have and increase more to make sure we get representatives in the Parliament next year," he said.

Mr Ruhuza said political activities in NCCR Mageuzi are carried out on voluntary basis by its members and sympathisers, a scenario that places the party is between a rock and a hard place when it comes to planning and budgeting for party activities.

"So far we don't have an established budget for the party, we just do what we can according to contributions we collect from good Samaritans amongst our members," said Mr Ruhuza.

On the other hand, DP national chairman Rev Christopher Mtikila, said his party depends on a miracle to happen for it to win the forthcoming local government election as the party has no funds.

Rev Mtikila said the party had informed all DP leaders in the regions to find alternative ways of raising funds to carter for the election and that those wishing to stand for leadership should do as independent candidates.

"We know that a miracle will happen and we will stand firm in this election and the forthcoming General Elections. We lack funds because our party is not a recipient of subsidies from the Government," he said.

On their part, CUF and Chadema have already started to cry foul, pointing an accusing finger to the Government ahead of the elections.

Speaking to The Citizen CUF deputy director for elections Shewaji Mketo, said the election will not be free and fair allegedly because the Government was not adhering to rules and regulations adopted by political parties early this year in Morogoro.

"There is double standards and failure to implement some of vital laws ahead of the local government election. We do not expect to have free and fair elections under such circumstances," claimed Mr Mketo.

He said the Government has distributed few copies of the rules, regulations and time table which are not enough even to distribute one copy in each region.

Mr Mketo said despite the Regional Administration and Local Government ministry sending out rules and regulations, there are contradictions as on which date to start the campaigns as time table gives different directives to what is in the rules.

The rules shows that while the campaigns will last for 21 days from 7th to 24th October, the time table shows the campaigns will be for one week from 18th to 24th October.

"We have written to the Political Party's Registrar to clarify the contradiction before we go to the nomination day on October 5th," said Mr Mkote.

Chadema director for Youth and International Relations, Mr John Mnyika, also blamed the Government for distributing few election rules and a policy document contrary to the needs of the party.

He said Chadema received 22 copies only to cover the current 232 constituencies, 10,000 villages and more than 100, 000 wards countywide.