Dodoma. There will be no new constitution until
after the 2015 General Election. We have it on the authority of the
chairman of the Tanzania Centre for Democracy (TCD), Mr John Cheyo.
Speaking after a meeting with President Jakaya Kikwete at Kilimani State
Lodge on Monday afternoon, Mr Cheyo said those present agreed
unanimously that the exercise be called off on the grounds that it was
unlikely to deliver on the promise.
In the circumstances, the prime issue that will
prey on President Jakaya Kikwete’s mind is probably his legacy--a
hallmark he would be remembered for. It would appear to be a case of too
little too late for him, though.
Addressing a press conference yesterday, Mr Cheyo
was categorical that the decision to halt the crafting of a new
constitution was reached upon realising that the time left to the 2015
General Election was not enough to accomplish such a big task.
TCD officials met the Head of State for the second
time in an attempt to craft a final and lasting solution to the
stalemate in the constitution-making process that began in April after
members of the Coalition of Defenders of People’s Constitution (Ukawa)
stormed out of the Constituent Assembly (CA) chamber. They were
protesting the overturning of people’s views as represented in the
second draft constitution. The draft was presented in the Assembly by
the now-dissolved Constitution Review Commission chairman, Judge Joseph
Warioba, in February.
An earlier meeting, at the same venue, held on
August 31 came up with a sub-commitee led by NCCR Mageuzi Chairman James
Mbatia. Its mandate was to chart a tentative roadmap and it presented
its report to Mr Kikwete and Mr Cheyo on Monday. Mr Cheyo--who was
flanked by Tanzania Labour Party Chairman Augustine Mrema, CCM’s Philip
Mangula, and UPDP Chairman Fahmi Dovutwa--said the parties agreed that
the CA continue until October 4, when its life comes to an end as per
Government Notice 254 that President Kikwete issued on August 1 to
extend the assembly’s time. “We found it appropriate to fulfil the
requirement of the law since the Head of State has no powers to suspend
the Assembly,” he explained.
But Chadema Secretary General Willibrod Slaa told
The Citizen he did not understand why Mr Cheyo chose October 4 as the
day the parties agreed to take a break. Mr Slaa added: “We prepared a
statement on the deal that we sealed with Mr Kikwete, but the copy I
have does not state anywhere that we agreed that the CA continue until
that date…what we said is that a clear and sober means be put in place
to ensure that it is suspended immediately to save tax payers’ money.”
TCD is an umbrella group that brings together all
political parties that have representatives in the National Assembly. It
includes CCM, NCCR Mageuzi, Civic United Front, Chadema, TLP and UDP.
Political parties that have no members in parliament are represented by
UPDP, which is led by Mr Fahmi Dovutwa.
The decision to suspend the constitution-making
process raises questions as to why the CA members should continue with
their sittings when it is clear that the new constitution can only come
in 2015.
At the Monday meeting, the parties sealed a deal
to make partial amendments to the current constitution to ensure that
the next General Election is free and fair.
The proposed amendments include allowing
independent candidates and ensuring that there is an independent
National Electoral Commission.
Other agreements include challenging presidential
election results in court and ensuring that the constitution states
clearly that the winner of the presidential election must garner a
minimum of 50 percent plus one votes. It was also agreed that should
political parties want more amendments, they will submit their proposals
to TCD, which will channel them to the right authorities.
The National Assembly is expected to debate and
adopt the amendments in the next session that is scheduled for October,
according to Mr Cheyo. “If time does not allow it,” he added, “we will
make sure that the session that meets in February incorporates the
proposed amendments in the current constitution.
SOURCE: THE CITIZEN
SOURCE: THE CITIZEN