The case against Special Seats, Nominated MPs, Zbar Reps
Saturday, 04 December 2010 22:11 digg
By Karl Lyimo
A THIRD of Tanzanias 339-seat National Assemblys made up of members who didnt get there through the noble qualification of Merit, Merit and nothing but undiluted Merit to become an MP outside the statutory conditionalities in the Constitution and related legislation
Even the attorney-general (A-G) who mayve the best academic and other qualifications in the place isnt a popularly elected MP. No wonder he doesnt vote!
The situations even less democratic, because the A-G is an ex-officio MP, appointed by the President. In the event, if he/she crosses swords with the president, the latter can revoke the appointment as easily as pushing a drunk off a log rolling downhill on a wet dark night! [Article 59 of the Constitution
].
The president can also nominate up to ten MPs at will.
For its part, the Zanzibar House of Representatives can shoehorn five of their own into Parliament
To say nothing of the more than one hundred (105 this time) women MPs who saunter into the august House courtesy of the political parties represented in Parliament.
In other words, none of these MPs directly represents the constitutional and constituency electorate in particular and the Tanzanian people at large! They all represent vested, narrower interests. Their political constituencies if I may stretch the term are the President (10 nominated MPs-plus-A-G) the political parties (special women seats) and the Zanzibar House!
In such a situation, why should Tanzania spend a fortune on a third of MPs who arent representatives of the people in a Govt. that claims to be of, by and for the people? Why? I ask you!
Ideally, at best they shouldnt be there at all; and at worst, they should have no Vote (along the lines of the ex-officio A-G). Theyre in the House at the pleasure of the President, their political parties and the House of Reps!
Secondly, if we must continue to bow to extraneous pressure and continue with the gender equality fallacy, then we must impose a severe limit on that. For instance, special-seat (women) MPs should be limited to a single term regardless. If theyre that good, then they should thereafter be able to carry their weight at the constituency level, where theyd have the advantage of a five-year experience as MPs which newcomer-candidates (both male and female) dont have!
What Tanzania really needs is a Parliament founded upon merit; and to dilute that with virtual excess baggage is doing gross disservice to 44m Tanzanians. The President knows this; the MPs themselves know this; the Judiciary knows this
And the up-and-coming Fourth Estate of the Realm the Press very well knows this!
Weve been missing the point all these years
Instead of beating about the bush, engaging in woolgathering and indulging in excessive sentimentalism, we must realize and accept whats crucial for meaningful and sustainable socio-economic development on the ground and then work on it!
Mwalimu Nyerere repeatedly warned us against selecting/electing leaders on ground(s) of religion, tribe, old schooldays network (Mwenzetu: one of us), etc. But, weve gone on doing so
Including a factor that none ever talks about: choosing leaders both elective and nominative on political partisanship/affiliation, thereby discriminating against members of other political parties!
Of course, nothings perfect or ideal
But, thats largely why our Parliaments so lopsided in favour of those already in power
And principal public officials, including ministers, are invariably from the ruling party. Thats discrimination just as much as was shutting out male aspirants to the Speaker post last November
Cheers!