Hawa watanzania wataielewaje rasimu ya Katiba na kupiga kura

[Mwanamayu]

Kuielewa rasimu ya katiba inahitaji kujua kusoma, kuandika, na kuhesabu. Kupiga kura kunahitaji kujua kusoma, kuandika, na kuhesabu. Sensa ya 2012 inaoesha kuna jumla ya watanzania 5.5m (milioni tano na laki tano) wenye umri kuanzia miaka 15 hawajui kusoma, kuhesabu, na wala kuandika. Miaka mitatu sasa imepita baada ya hiyo sensa, yawezekana namba imezidi, kushuka, ama kubaki palepale; na hao wote kwa sasa wana miaka 18.

Wanaojua kusoma, kuandika, na kuhesabu ni 19.2m kuanzia miaka 15 wakati ule (2012).

Kwa makundi yote haya mawili katika kuandikishwa kupiga kura ni rahisi kwani haiangalii kujua kusoma, kuandika, na kuhesabu

Maswali magumu:
1. Wasiojua kusoma, kuandika na kuhesabu walioandikishwa, huwa wanapiga vipi kura?
2. Hawa wasiojua kusoma, kuandika na kuhesabu wataielewa vipi rasimu ya katiba inayopendekezwa?
3. Je, maaskofu hawakulenga kundi hili walipotaka watanzania wapige kura ya 'hapana'?
4. je, serikali kuwataka wananchi wapige kura ya 'ndiyo', sio ku-take advantage ya kundi hili?
5. Hivi ukitumia pesa nyingi kuandaa rasimu ya katiba, maanake lazima ipigiwe kura ya 'ndiyo'?
6. je BVR ndio suluhisho la kundi ili katika kupiga kura endapo gadgets za kupigia kura zitakuwa touch screen?

 

[Mzuvendi]

If you go to the USA where it assumed that everybody knows to read and write, many people there haven't read their constitution in its entirety. So the notion that knowing reading and writing will help Tanzanian voters make informed decisions when they go to polls is misleading.

Don't misunderstand me. Reading and writing are good skills in a democratic process and in an ideal situation any potential voters should master them. However, we should also bear in mind that majority of people vote for something not because they know to read and write, but because they have been persuaded to do so by somebody else (The agent of change).

 

[Mwanamayu]

If you go to the USA where it assumed that everybody knows to read and write, many people there haven't read their constitution in its entirety. So the notion that knowing reading and writing will help Tanzanian voters make informed decisions when they go to polls is misleading.

Don't misunderstand me. Reading and writing are good skills in a democratic process and in an ideal situation any potential voters should master them. However, we should also bear in mind that majority of people vote for something not because they know to read and write, but because they have been persuaded to do so by somebody else (The agent of change).

I overlooked that they possibly use photos and not names of candidates to vote!

 

[Mzuvendi]

I overlooked that they possibly use photos and not names of candidates to vote!

I was not talking about the voting mechanisms itself, but rather the influence of other people in the voting process. In any society, the number of people who influence others to vote for something is very small. For example, people who are ardent supporters of CCM have already been influenced and they know what they should vote for. Therefore, reading and writing will not change their vote even if the alternative in the opposition is better. Likewise, the supporters of CDM would rather stay home than vote for CCM.

The point I want to make is at this point the literacy rate in the country won't change the outcome of the referendum. What will change the outcome is the effort you put out there to influence others. For example if you a pastor or Imam, you wouldn't influence voters by asking the government to educate voters. You will influence by going out there and take a position. If you think the constitution good, tell people to vote for it. If you think the constitution isn't up to the task, tell me not to accept it and explain why?