‘Expect partisan document, useful for only a few years’
Warioba, who chaired the Constitutional Review Commission whose
recommendations have triggered heated debate in the Constituent Assembly
in Dodoma.
The stand-off in the Constituent Assembly could end
up giving Tanzanians a Constitution that will be useful for only a few
years.
This was said by the Constitutional Review Commission Chairman retired
Justice Joseph Warioba in Dar es Salaam yesterday when he delivered a
keynote address at the launch of a survey report titled: ‘What do people
really think of the constitution?’, released by Twaweza.
According to Warioba, the current CA proceedings lack consensus and are
full of abusive language. He cautioned: “Members are divided into
groups… we should expect a certain group’s constitution that will not
last for more than ten years.”
Warioba said wananchi played their role by airing views for the new
constitution. He said the only problem facing CA members is that they
shifted from discussing the draft to issues of their own interest at the
expense of the people.
“They all claim to represent wananchi but actually they represent views
of their political parties”, said the former Premier, insisting that
Tanzanians must get a new Mother Law.
He advised members of the CA and leaders to reconcile and proceed with
the constitution writing process, urging them to avoid using abusive
language in the debating chamber.
He said that claims that a three-government structure would result in
the government failing to pay the army personnel were not supposed to be
debated in the house.
He maintained that there are times when the army faced problems and some
soldiers even missed uniforms, but they did not turn against the
government.
Presenting the research findings, Rakesh Rajani, Head of Twaweza, said
results of their survey conducted in both the mainland and Zanzibar show
that 65 percent of people in the mainland and 62 percent in the Isles
support the draft constitution.
Rajani said most people were concerned with key issues in the
constitution. He said they wanted the government and public servants to
be accountable and transparency should be increased at all levels.
“True leadership is not about forcefully advocating your own opinion,
but appreciating different opinions and crafting a new agreement based
on core principles and shared interests,” he said.
A lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam, Prof Kitila Mkumbo, was
of the view that the Constitution Review Act (CRA) should be amended to
allow the President to re-appoint CA members. He said that legislators
still have a chance to amend the CRA in the coming parliamentary budget
sessions.
“The CRA can be tabled under a certificate of urgency in the coming ‘Bunge’ meeting”, he suggested.
According to Dr Mkumbo, the President should postpone the CA in order to
reflect on the issues raised by every group before proceeding. He said
the CA is full of politicians, resulting in the debates being hijacked
by political parties.
Prof Palamagamba Kabudi of the University of Dar es Salaam who was a CRC
member said in debating the Union structure, CA members should also
discuss the system governing it.
He emphasised that views incorporated in the draft constitution were not
personal. “The draft was not of our making. It comes from views of the
people…it is upon the people to defend their views,” he said.
According to him, Tanzanians deserve a good constitution that comes from their own views.
Dr Hamis Kigwangala, a CA member who represented the ruling Chama Cha
Mapinduzi applauded the CRC for a job well done. However, he said the
CRC proposal to bring back the government of Tanganyika was unlawful.
Julius Mtatiro, the CUF Deputy Secretary General (Mainland) and
Executive Secretary of the Coalition of the People’s Constitution
(Ukawa) challenged CA members who question the data submitted by the
Warioba commission, especially on the Union structure.
He said almost all the key issues were contributed by a few people as a sample.
THE GUARDIAN
