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Kwanini tunajali kuhusu marekebisho ya Sheria ya Vyama vya Siasa?
1: Marekebisho yanampa Msajili mamlaka kubwa isiyo na mipaka.
Kimsingi, marekebisho yanayopendekezwa hayatoi fursa ya ushindani huru kwenye jukwaa la kisiasa. Msajili anateuliwa na Rais, ambaye ni mwenyekiA wa chama kimoja cha siasa. Kisha Msajili anapewa mamlaka juu ya vyama vingine, ikiwemo: kusimamisha wanachama, kufuta usajili wa vyama, kutaka taarifa yoyote kutoka kwenye vyama, na kutaka vyama vibadilishe katiba zao. Vilevile waziri mwenye dhamana amepewa jukumu la kutengeneza kanuni kuhusu masuala ya ndani ya vyama vya siasa bila kujali kuwa waziri ni mwanachama wa chama fulani.
2: Marekebisho yanakataza au kudhibiti shughuli halali za kisiasa na uhuru wa kujieleza. Msajili ana mamlaka ya kukataa mashirika yanayotaka kutoa elimu ya uraia na ya kujenga uwezo kwa chama chochote.
• Msajili ana mamlaka ya kudhibiti elimu ya uraia.
• Marekebisho yanavizuia vyama kufanya kazi kama vikundi vya ushawishi (kujaribu kushawishi mitazamo ya wananchi au serikali kufanya jambo fulani) – japokuwa hii ni moja ya kazi muhimu za vyama vya siasa.
• Sheria imeainisha kuwa ni kosa kwa chama “kutoa kauli ambazo si za kweli” Kimsingi kifungu hiki kinatishia demokrasia na haki ya msingi ya uhuru wa kujieleza kwani ni ngumu kuainisha upi ni ukweli na upi ni uongo hasa katika masuala yenye utata hasa inapotokea mvutano wa kimtazamo au kiitikadi katika siasa.
3: Marekebisho yameainisha Adhabu kali kwa makosa ya kiutendaji. Kwenye kila kifungu kipya kilichoongezwa, kimeambatanishwa na kifungu chenye makosa yanayohusiana na kifungu hicho. Kuweka makosa hayo kila mahali inajenga hofu, na mtazamo kuwa ni rahisi kwa vyama vya siasa kufanya makosa hayo.
Adhabu zilizowekwa haziendani na makosa yaliyoainishwa: kushindwa kutoa taarifa inaweza kusababisha faini ya mamilioni ya shilingi (au hata kifungo) kwa watu binafsi na taasisi. Na wakati mwingine, vyama vinaweza vikafutiwa usajili kwa sababu ya makosa haya ya kiutendaji.
4: Nafasi ya vyama imebanwa sana na hakuna ufuatiliaji wa kutosha wa kazi zinazofanywa na Msajili. Vyama vinavyoathirika na maamuzi ya Msajili havina nafasi ya kutosha ya kujitetea. Marekebisho (na sheria kuu) yanampa Msajili mamlaka makubwa sana bila uwajibikaji. Msajili ana mamlaka ya kuvinyima vyama ruzuku, kuvisimamisha, kuvifutia usajili na kuvibana kwenye makosa mbalimbali. Maamuzi ya Msajili kwa kiwango kikubwa ni ya mwisho.
Kimsingi sheria inahusu kudhibiti usajili na utendaji kazi wa vyama vya siasa. Kwa masuala mengine na makosa, wanachama na viongozi wa vyama vya siasa wanapaswa kuheshimu sheria zilizoko.
5: Marekebisho ya sheria yametumia vifungu na maneno yasiyo na maana ya moja kwa moja ambayo kisheria yanaweza kuwa na maana zaidi ya moja hivyo kuruhusu maamuzi yasiyo na usawa.
Baadhi ya vifungu katika sheria hii vinampa Msajili mamlaka ya kufanya maamuzi yenye madhara makubwa kwa vyama kwa kufuata kile “anachokiamini” au kwa “kutoridhishwa" na jambo fulani.
Mapitio ya Sheria zilizoko, Mikataba na kanuni
Mkataba wa Kimataifa wa Haki za Kiraia na Kisiasa (ICCPR), 1966.
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Analysis of the Political Parties (Amendment) Act, 2018
By Twaweza East Africa, Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) , Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), Media Council of Tanzania (MCT), Waandishi wa Habari za Maendeleo Zanzibar (WAHAMAZA) and Centre for Strategic Litigation Submitted to The Parliamentary CommiLee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs SubmiLed on January 17, 2019 Honourable Chair and distinguished members of this Committee We have honoured your kind invitation to contribute to the review of this important Special Bill Supplement (as received) by submittig our written analysis on the proposed amendments.
Broadly, we believe that it is important and timely to amend the Political Parties Act (CAP 258, 2002) in order to improve the management of political parties specifically, and broadly for promoting democracy, good governance and development in the country. We particularly acknowledge several proposed revisions and addition of new sections that:
• Ensure accountability and transparency in political parties affair: refer, for example to sections on management and reporting of parties’ assets and resources including the role of the office of the CAG
• Promote principles of democracy; refer for example to sections that prevent political parties from delegating functions of key national organs and provisions on monitoring of intra-party elections and nomination of candidates: areas that have been sources of major conflicts in several political parties over the years
• Prevent disruption of peace and order by prohibiting political parties from forming militia and paramilitary groups, among others However, we have serious reservations on several sections of the proposed amendments such that we believe, if adopted as they are, this Act will have adverse effects on democracy and the basic civic and political rights of citizens of the United Republic of Tanzania.
We strongly observe that limiting people’s basic rights and failure to promote democracy in the country will lead to an apathetic citizenry, incapable of meaningfully contributing towards sustainable development for themselves and the nation at large.
Deeply concerned by the unnecessary criminalisation of the basic duties and responsibilities of political parties and other actors, combined with excessively punitive measures without provisions for due process in the Act, we make the following general comments:
1. Throughout the Act, there is need for clarity in the provisions including more specificity to avoid vague and superfluous (redundant) provisions which provide loopholes for abuse of powers and can create fear among concerned stakeholders;
2. Reduce the powers of the Registrar in the provision of civic education from powers to regulate to powers to guide/monitor and as a result prevent the proposed criminalisation of individuals and institutions in providing civic education and capacity building;
3. The powers of the office of the Registrar over political parties should be reasonable. The proposed amendment grants excessive discretionary powers to the Registrar seriously affecting autonomy and breaching confidentiality in political parties affairs. The Registrar should play a facilitative role rather than acting like a policing organ for political parties;
4. The Act should provide for establishment of an independent Political Parties Disputes Tribunal with judicial powers to hear and decide on all political parties’ disputes. In the implementation of this Act, the Registrar of Politiical Parties should work in close collaboration, instead of competition, with other relevant authorities particularly the Political Parties Council and the Na0onal Electoral Commission (NEC);
5. Political parties should embrace and demonstrate principles of good governance as stipulated in the Act, including accountability, transparency and fairness in their conduct;
6. The Act should be aligned to the constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania and avoid contradictions with already existing laws of the country. In subsequent pages, we provide detailed analysis to support our general and specific comments.
We humbly submit,
Legal and Human Rights Centre
Tanganyika Law Society
Twaweza
WAHAMAZA
MCT
Center for Strategic Litigation
1: Marekebisho yanampa Msajili mamlaka kubwa isiyo na mipaka.
Kimsingi, marekebisho yanayopendekezwa hayatoi fursa ya ushindani huru kwenye jukwaa la kisiasa. Msajili anateuliwa na Rais, ambaye ni mwenyekiA wa chama kimoja cha siasa. Kisha Msajili anapewa mamlaka juu ya vyama vingine, ikiwemo: kusimamisha wanachama, kufuta usajili wa vyama, kutaka taarifa yoyote kutoka kwenye vyama, na kutaka vyama vibadilishe katiba zao. Vilevile waziri mwenye dhamana amepewa jukumu la kutengeneza kanuni kuhusu masuala ya ndani ya vyama vya siasa bila kujali kuwa waziri ni mwanachama wa chama fulani.
2: Marekebisho yanakataza au kudhibiti shughuli halali za kisiasa na uhuru wa kujieleza. Msajili ana mamlaka ya kukataa mashirika yanayotaka kutoa elimu ya uraia na ya kujenga uwezo kwa chama chochote.
• Msajili ana mamlaka ya kudhibiti elimu ya uraia.
• Marekebisho yanavizuia vyama kufanya kazi kama vikundi vya ushawishi (kujaribu kushawishi mitazamo ya wananchi au serikali kufanya jambo fulani) – japokuwa hii ni moja ya kazi muhimu za vyama vya siasa.
• Sheria imeainisha kuwa ni kosa kwa chama “kutoa kauli ambazo si za kweli” Kimsingi kifungu hiki kinatishia demokrasia na haki ya msingi ya uhuru wa kujieleza kwani ni ngumu kuainisha upi ni ukweli na upi ni uongo hasa katika masuala yenye utata hasa inapotokea mvutano wa kimtazamo au kiitikadi katika siasa.
3: Marekebisho yameainisha Adhabu kali kwa makosa ya kiutendaji. Kwenye kila kifungu kipya kilichoongezwa, kimeambatanishwa na kifungu chenye makosa yanayohusiana na kifungu hicho. Kuweka makosa hayo kila mahali inajenga hofu, na mtazamo kuwa ni rahisi kwa vyama vya siasa kufanya makosa hayo.
Adhabu zilizowekwa haziendani na makosa yaliyoainishwa: kushindwa kutoa taarifa inaweza kusababisha faini ya mamilioni ya shilingi (au hata kifungo) kwa watu binafsi na taasisi. Na wakati mwingine, vyama vinaweza vikafutiwa usajili kwa sababu ya makosa haya ya kiutendaji.
4: Nafasi ya vyama imebanwa sana na hakuna ufuatiliaji wa kutosha wa kazi zinazofanywa na Msajili. Vyama vinavyoathirika na maamuzi ya Msajili havina nafasi ya kutosha ya kujitetea. Marekebisho (na sheria kuu) yanampa Msajili mamlaka makubwa sana bila uwajibikaji. Msajili ana mamlaka ya kuvinyima vyama ruzuku, kuvisimamisha, kuvifutia usajili na kuvibana kwenye makosa mbalimbali. Maamuzi ya Msajili kwa kiwango kikubwa ni ya mwisho.
Kimsingi sheria inahusu kudhibiti usajili na utendaji kazi wa vyama vya siasa. Kwa masuala mengine na makosa, wanachama na viongozi wa vyama vya siasa wanapaswa kuheshimu sheria zilizoko.
5: Marekebisho ya sheria yametumia vifungu na maneno yasiyo na maana ya moja kwa moja ambayo kisheria yanaweza kuwa na maana zaidi ya moja hivyo kuruhusu maamuzi yasiyo na usawa.
Baadhi ya vifungu katika sheria hii vinampa Msajili mamlaka ya kufanya maamuzi yenye madhara makubwa kwa vyama kwa kufuata kile “anachokiamini” au kwa “kutoridhishwa" na jambo fulani.
Mapitio ya Sheria zilizoko, Mikataba na kanuni
- Katiba ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania, 1977
- Ibara ya 13.-(1) Watu wote ni sawa mbele ya sheria, na wanayo haki bila ya ubaguzi wowote, kulindwa na kupata haki sawa mbele ya sheria.
- Ibara ya 20.-(1) Kila mtu anao uhuru wa kukutana na watu wengine kwa hiari yake na kwa amani, kuchanganyika, kushirikiana na watu wengine, na kwa ajili hiyo kutoa mawazo yake hadharani na kuanzisha na kujiunga na vyama au mashirika yalioanzishwa kwa madhumuni ya kuhifadhi au kuendeleza imani au maslahi yake au maslahi mengineyo.
- Ibara ya 107A.-(1) Mamlaka yenye kauli ya mwisho ya utoaji haki katika Jamhuri ya Muungano itakuwa ni Mahakama.
Mkataba wa Kimataifa wa Haki za Kiraia na Kisiasa (ICCPR), 1966.
=========
Analysis of the Political Parties (Amendment) Act, 2018
By Twaweza East Africa, Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) , Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), Media Council of Tanzania (MCT), Waandishi wa Habari za Maendeleo Zanzibar (WAHAMAZA) and Centre for Strategic Litigation Submitted to The Parliamentary CommiLee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs SubmiLed on January 17, 2019 Honourable Chair and distinguished members of this Committee We have honoured your kind invitation to contribute to the review of this important Special Bill Supplement (as received) by submittig our written analysis on the proposed amendments.
Broadly, we believe that it is important and timely to amend the Political Parties Act (CAP 258, 2002) in order to improve the management of political parties specifically, and broadly for promoting democracy, good governance and development in the country. We particularly acknowledge several proposed revisions and addition of new sections that:
• Ensure accountability and transparency in political parties affair: refer, for example to sections on management and reporting of parties’ assets and resources including the role of the office of the CAG
• Promote principles of democracy; refer for example to sections that prevent political parties from delegating functions of key national organs and provisions on monitoring of intra-party elections and nomination of candidates: areas that have been sources of major conflicts in several political parties over the years
• Prevent disruption of peace and order by prohibiting political parties from forming militia and paramilitary groups, among others However, we have serious reservations on several sections of the proposed amendments such that we believe, if adopted as they are, this Act will have adverse effects on democracy and the basic civic and political rights of citizens of the United Republic of Tanzania.
We strongly observe that limiting people’s basic rights and failure to promote democracy in the country will lead to an apathetic citizenry, incapable of meaningfully contributing towards sustainable development for themselves and the nation at large.
Deeply concerned by the unnecessary criminalisation of the basic duties and responsibilities of political parties and other actors, combined with excessively punitive measures without provisions for due process in the Act, we make the following general comments:
1. Throughout the Act, there is need for clarity in the provisions including more specificity to avoid vague and superfluous (redundant) provisions which provide loopholes for abuse of powers and can create fear among concerned stakeholders;
2. Reduce the powers of the Registrar in the provision of civic education from powers to regulate to powers to guide/monitor and as a result prevent the proposed criminalisation of individuals and institutions in providing civic education and capacity building;
3. The powers of the office of the Registrar over political parties should be reasonable. The proposed amendment grants excessive discretionary powers to the Registrar seriously affecting autonomy and breaching confidentiality in political parties affairs. The Registrar should play a facilitative role rather than acting like a policing organ for political parties;
4. The Act should provide for establishment of an independent Political Parties Disputes Tribunal with judicial powers to hear and decide on all political parties’ disputes. In the implementation of this Act, the Registrar of Politiical Parties should work in close collaboration, instead of competition, with other relevant authorities particularly the Political Parties Council and the Na0onal Electoral Commission (NEC);
5. Political parties should embrace and demonstrate principles of good governance as stipulated in the Act, including accountability, transparency and fairness in their conduct;
6. The Act should be aligned to the constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania and avoid contradictions with already existing laws of the country. In subsequent pages, we provide detailed analysis to support our general and specific comments.
We humbly submit,
Legal and Human Rights Centre
Tanganyika Law Society
Twaweza
WAHAMAZA
MCT
Center for Strategic Litigation
