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- Oct 6, 2011
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President Jakaya Kikwete
Wananchi have expressed worries that a new constitution may after all not be realised this despite reassurance by President Jakaya Kikwete and other party leaders who met twice last week.
The public's general view gathered from separate interviews with The Guardian yesterday was that the process be suspended with immediate effect saying its continuation was ‘a waste of tax payers' money.'
Several interviewees were of the view that even though the President and Tanzania Centre for Democracy (TCD) pledged that the process will be completed next year after the General Election they are concerned that the incoming president may not necessarily prioritise the issue.
Aisha Seveline, a Dar es Salaam based businesswoman said, she was not surprised to learn of the agreements reached between the President and political party leaders on the constitution writing wrangle.
She explained that political will was required to facilitate the entire constitution making process rather than leaving the entire process to hand on balance.
"There was no political will or firm stand reached, and this makes me feel that our political leaders might be having some hidden agenda," she said.
Mbeya resident Mzee Athuman (68), said it is high time the nation's accredited attorneys translated the constitution review legislation to enable more people to understand what is there in.
He was of the view that, there were still some confusion behind the powers vested to the President and the CA chairperson.
He observed that it is the judiciary that can help people understand whether it is right or not for the Constituent Assembly to proceed with the constitution making process. However wisdom cannot be overlooked, he stressed.
Athuman noted that the current constitution is still relevant though it needs some few amendments to make it work through. "This is the constitution that has created peace and harmony we both enjoy in the country," he said.
Kahama MP James Lembeli said suspending the Constituent Assembly (CA) would be a victory to Tanzanians, the new constitution and democracy.
The lawmaker, who is also Chairman of Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Land, Natural Resources and Environment, is currently in South Africa accompanying the first three winners of Tanapa Media Awards in 2013.
He said that although the decision to halt the CA has come late it was even though worth taking because the new constitution is an organ and the Mother Law for all Tanzanians regardless of their political ideology, race or religion.
Lembeli, who believes in the three governments arrangement, said he had advised from the beginning that the CA should be suspended because it is not inclusive due to boycott by Coalition of the Defenders of the People's Constitution (Ukawa).
He said that political parties under TCD have taken a wise decision on an independent electoral commission and independent candidate.
Meanwhile, some CA members have commended the consensus reached between President Jakaya Kikwete and the Tanzania Centre for Democracy (TCD) to put on hold the constitution making process to pave the way for preparation of the forthcoming General Election.
Minister of State, President's Office (Policy and Coordination), Steven Wassira commended the TCD and President Kikwete for the decision reached when they convened on Monday this week in Dodoma.
According to the changes, the local government's election which was to be conducted late this year will be held early next year amid the General Election in October.
Wassira said that it wasn't possible for the government to conduct a referendum and General Election at once, he said, "These two major things could not be held in the same year."
He however clarified that the constitution review process has not been stopped, but will continue after the General Election in 2015 until when the new constitution is obtained.
Yahaya Kasim Issa said they have wisely decided to give Tanzanians enough time to prepare a better document.
"We shall later be in a position to come up with a good constitution that can be used for the next 50 years," he noted.
Happiness Sengi, a CA member from the group of 201 said the constitution review process can take long because there are many things to be changed or removed.
"It is good that the CA continues until October 4, this year… we are now sure of preparing having a document that shall positively be received by ‘wananchi," she said.
On Monday President Jakaya Kikwete reached a consensus with members of the Tanzania Centre for Democracy (TCD) to halt the constitution making process to pave the way for the coming General Election slated for October 2015.
The President first met with TCD members on August 31, 2014 but they failed to reach consensus and they met again on Monday this week.
Source: The Guardian
http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/?l=72015