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DAR ES SALAAM. — The National Electoral Commission in Tanzania said on Monday it was beefing up security at its headquarters to protect election facilities to be used in the east African nation’s general elections slated for Oct. 25.

Kailima Ramadhani, the Director of Elections, said the electoral body’s headquarters in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam was being installed with security scanners and CCTV cameras.

Ramadhani said the tightening of security will also involve changing of door locks and replacing them with sophisticated locks.

“We are doing this because during this period of election, election equipment are very sensitive, it’s risky if any of the polling documents here are stolen,” he said.

Over 23 million out of a population of 46 million Tanzanians will go to the polls on October 25 to elect the president, Members of Parliament and councilors.

The presidential candidate for the ruling party-Chama Cha Mapinduzi, John Magufuli, is facing fierce competition from Edward Lowassa who is contesting on the ticket of leading opposition party — Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA). CHADEMA is campaigning on a coalition of three other opposition parties of Civic United Front (CUF), National League for Democracy and NCCR-Mageuzi. — Xinhua.