PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has appealed to people to accept the outcome of the civic elections as they will show the kind of leaders they willingly chose.

The president yesterday led Tanzanians in voting for local government leaders as she participated in the democratic exercise at Sokoine ward, Chamwino area in the capital, where Chamwino DC Janeth Mayanja acknowledged the president’s participation in the mainly rural area.

“As the first citizen of Chamwino, the president has shown the way in electing civic leaders, let us follow suit,” she said in an interview before midday.

Chamwino MP Deogratius Ndejembi, also a cabinet minister with the Lands portfolio, observed that the polling was undertaken in a peaceful environment, “thus members of the public should come out in large numbers and vote.”

Mohamed Mchengerwa, the Regional Administration and Local Governments state minister in the President’s Office had announced in the run up to the polling that a total of 31,282,331 eligible voters were on the roll.

President Samia, speaking briefly after casting her votes, reiterated the significance of local governments for nation building and enhancing democratic space.

Voting indicates exercising political rights and democratic participation, thus all those who registered and are eligible to vote needed to come out and vote, she said, airing the view that the exercise would be smooth throughout the country.

President Samia who cast her vote at about 11: 15 am called for peaceful voting, insisting that people should vote in peace, not tamper with our peace ”and let the ballot boxes give us the results.”

The night before the president had appealed in a televised message that the election reminded the public that through the leaders they elect, “they establish a foundation for accountability, quality service delivery to citizens and proper management of public resources.

 “This is an opportunity to ensure we build a society characterised by stability, unity and progress,” she said in remarks delivered from the Chamwino State House in the capital.

She described the voting as an opportunity to ensure that decisions affecting communities are based on the real needs of the people.

“The country heads to the polls that is widely considered free and fair due to a combination of legal frameworks, transparency in the process, voter education and judicial oversight.

“Indeed, the commitment of the government, electoral bodies and civil society to uphold democratic values ensures that the electoral process remains credible, inclusive and accountable.”