Forum expresses concern on constitution-making process

Hebron Mwakagenda, TCF acting chairman

The Tanzania Constitutional Forum (TCF) is concerned that the ongoing constitution making process may not produce the document by April next year as promised by the government.

addressing journalists in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, the TCF acting chairman, Hebron Mwakagenda, said this is because of the entire process which is long. 

The process has to go through many stages, like election of members for the constituent assembly and referendum. He said this will automatically affect the date for getting the new constitution.

He said: “We have been saying this, and we say it again, that it is impossible for the country to have its new constitution on April 25 next year, despite the fact that authorities are disputing the fact.”

He said the TCF will call a meeting next week to be attended by at least 200 members from Tanzania Mainland and Isles for electing 20 members who will attend the constituent assembly. 

The assembly will have 640 members, among whom 481 will be politicians (MPs), representatives and members from registered political parties (71 percent from Chama Cha Mapinduzi-CCM).

Only 159 members will come from other institutions and these are neither Members of Parliament nor members of the Zanzibar House of representatives.

“We also support the recommendation of holding a constitutional general meeting to deliberate the matter. This is for the interest of the nation as the meeting will set the basis for members to talk about constitution affairs in general,” he said.

He said members who will be elected to the constituency assembly will come from non-governmental organizations and religious institutions. 

Others will come from political parties with permanent registration, higher learning education institutions and groups of people with disabilities.

Yet others will be representatives of workers’ associations, livestock associations, farmers’ associations and fisheries. 

Meanwhile, Mwakagenda proposed that the National Electoral Commission has to be revisited before being mandated to oversee the referendum process. 

After this, the second constitutional draft will be handed over to President Jakaya Kikwete and his counterpart in Zanzibar, President Ally Mohammed Shein, next week. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN