TANZANIAN CHRISTIANS FORMS A FORUM

Dar es Salaam regional commissioner Mr William Lukuvi  

By Elias Mhegera

A sudden change of attitude amongst the Christian bodies has left a lot of questions to Tanzanians in some circles. 

A quick survey by The Express has indicated that the strong issues that leave some questions, are; the timing of the congregation and the tone of the clerics in the  speeches that were made during the opening ceremony of the Tanzania Christian Forum.

The clerics raised seven issues that have made them to form such a body. They said that they want to protect the Christian faith, to cultivate a culture of respect, to have a single voice in sensitive national issues and improve cooperation in matters of theology. 

Other issues were religious tolerance, educating the society on issues of peace and interreligious dialogue. All those were wrapped up in the form of maintaining peace, unity and harmony in Tanzania. 

However, they rejected an outright possibility of forming a single religious sect that will conjoin them together. The three bodies that form the forum are the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), the Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT), and the Pentecostal Council of Tanzania (PCT). 

The congregation of the clerics and scores of followers of the Christian denomination was blessed by the Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner William Lukuvi, who represented the government.

From the TEC the main speaker was Bishop Severine Niwemugizi, Bishop of Rulenge, while from the CCT the main speaker was its secretary-general Bishop Dr Leonard Mtaita, on its party the PCT was represented by Bishop Sylvester Gamanywa who was also the master of ceremony of the occasion.  

Asked if the congregation might be seen as being politically motivated taking into consideration that this is an election year, Bishop Gamanywa said the congregation is apolitical.

He said that the question of threats does not necessary mean that these must be threats from within this country, but they can as well be threats from globalization, corruption and the like.

He said Christians have a right to resolve on matters that put them together regardless of the time factor. He defended that the congregation was a culmination of a long term process which started in 2007.

He added that some of those who have been condemned in various crimes in courts are Christians, so this unity is an attempt to bring them back to Jesus Christ their messiah.

Rev. Philemon Tibanenason a church overseer from the PCT supported this view saying that the forum is purely a religious affair and it has nothing to do with politics.

Asked why one speaker from his church Bishop David Batenzi said that the motive was also to get rid of the ‘power of darkness’ he said that anything that does not appease God belongs to Satan who is a representative of the power of darkness.

He defended the forum saying that the slogan “With a Single Christian Voice” means that now Christians will face the moral challenges from a more united front. 

“Where there is Godly justice there is public justice, Tanzania must be revamped from the powers of Satan through Christian unity” he said.

From the Roman Catholic Church a highly positioned priest said that he does not see anything ‘political’ in this forum. Instead he sees this as a necessary phenomenon to defend Christianity.

Asked to comment on the event, a prominent political science lecturer Prof Mwesiga Baregu said he needs enough time to study the matter before he make any comments.

A quick reminder however, is that he is currently employed by the TEC trough its constituent university, St. Augustine University of Tanzania. He possibly must have avoided conflict of interest with his employer.

In recent times in Tanzania there has been a tug of war between the Christians on one hand and the government on the other.

Issues which have brought strong debates include an attempt by the government through the ministry of foreign affairs to join the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the establishment of Islamic Kadhi Courts.

Another issue which has brought some mummers are why the National Bank of Commerce (NBC), has assumed religious tones, that it is an Islamic Bank, these and many other similar issues have raised eyebrows amongst the Christians.

Therefore the statement from the Forum, that they will raise a ‘Single Christian Voice’ could have far implications in many issues where Christians have a common stake.

But while this is going on there must be a quick reminder that the coincidence might send shivers to the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi that it must take religious issues with a due weight. Therefore this might be a Christian attempt on ‘gunboat diplomacy’.

 In international politics, gunboat diplomacy refers to the pursuit of foreign policy objectives with the aid of conspicuous displays of military power — implying or constituting a direct threat of warfare, should terms not be agreeable to the superior force.

Other issues which have raised concerns in relations between the government and the Christian bodies are the Catholic Pastoral Document which brought a lot of commotion last year from the government’s response. 

This was followed by a heated speech by the Cardinal Polycarp Pengo, Archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam                                                          during the burial of the Mwanza Archbishop the late Anthony Mayalla in Mwanza in August last year.

END

TANZANIA: ORIENTATION SEMINARS PROFITABLE?

By Elias Mhegera

THERE are indications that leaders in Tanzania are now losing the speed that the incumbent president Jakaya Kikwete had earlier promised due to lack of preparation in the top managerial capacity.

In 2006 President Kikwete met with cabinet ministers, permanent secretaries and their deputies to chart out what they should do in order to support him in his first five years, but the drastic fall from the over 80 percent of the cast votes in 2005, to 61 percent of the presidential votes during the last year’s General Election sent a strong message that things did not augur well as he had anticipated in the first five years of his tenure.

In order to revitalize his party and the trust of the people to his Government he has introduced a serious of measures which involved a cleansing campaign in the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), where the entire secretariat had to resign. This then was followed by a seminar to formulate new strategies.

Commenting on the possibility if the recent seminar that was conducted by the president in the central town of Dodoma would yield any positive results, the director of the Legal and Human Rights Centre, Francis Kiwanga said some leaders lack the basic skills in management which are important because the Government is currently conducting its affairs like a business and not a service per se.

He therefore counseled that management should be made a compulsory subject in all spheres in order to prepare future leaders well in advance. Kiwanga said the seminars were good in capacity building and reviewing the performance of the Government in various capacities.

When he was consulted by Shout Africa.Com for comments the ruling CCM deputy secretary general Capt (rtd) John Chiligati said the issue in debate needs a long discussion and he could not comment because he was attending a party meeting.

But Prof Mwesiga Baregu a veteran political scientist and lecturer at the St Augustine University of Tanzania (SAUT), said that seminars only will not revitalize the Government’s performance due to a number of factors.

“I do not think we should expect fundamental changes if at all there is no clear direction in policy issues, lack of focus and for the fact that some appointees of the president lack the necessary merits after being handpicked without a rigourous scrutiny,” said Baregu.

He traces the weakness as having started since 1985 when the founding father of Tanzania Mwalimu Julius who had set forth ethical codes under the Arusha Declaration.

Baregu says that after having failed to identify an ideology that will make Tanzanians work unitedly various groups started to deviate from the main political track. In the process egoistic interests have fostered and the public interests have been neglected.

As a long term effect says Baregu, the appointment of some top Governemnt officials is lacking rigourous scrutiny but they have been appointed simply because they have been firmly attached to those in power for their selfish interests rather than those of the citizenry at large.

Recently during the directive seminar – the second of its kind – President Kikwete decried negative trends in which some leaders have failed to observe ethics to the extent of misbehaving in public spaces.

Dr Sengondo Mvungi a lawyer and lecturer of the newly established University of Bagamoyo says that the president has been overburdened by heavy tasks due to the fact that there are senior officials who have fought the hard way to the top not because they aim to serve but for self enrichment.

This then would have needed a strong prime minister who could work as a serious head prefect in order to remove from the list those who have failed to deliver. He sees the appointment of the current Premier Peter Pinda as a measure to calm down groups that were emerging very fast in the ruling party much to the detriment of the smooth running of the Government affairs.

He is surprised that the clandestine race for the State House for the 2015 has paralyzed the functioning of the incumbent Government much to the detriment of the unity within the ruling party and the collective responsibility in the Government itself.

Dr Mvungi says the recent cleansing campaign which removed the entire CCM secretariat is not necessarily a panacea to curb power mongers who have weakened the Government’s performance, he condemn the use of big amounts of money in power acquisition as the real current problem in Tanzania.

Dr Haji Semboja a senior economist and lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam say the seminars are expensive and they just consume coffers money while delivery is not guaranteed.

While he supports the idea of having such seminars but he thinks they are not enough because previously there were colleges like the Kivukoni Ideological College currently Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Memorial Academy and the Mrutunguru Ideological College that were established to groom leaders.

He sees lack of such institutions as a handicap in preparing future leaders who are well versed with the skills of running their country

A top official with the Tanzania Centre for Democracy (TCD) who spoke on preference of anonymity says there are serious contradictions within the ruling party between returning the party to ethical standards and maintaining party solidarity.

He says a good number of senior politicians both within  and outside the Government have had enriched themselves some with lucrative businesses home and abroad, big business networks abroad and offshore accounts they are seen as a threat to the party if they were to be sidelined.

This is happening while the ruling party itself is grappling with how it can return trust of its members particularly the disgruntled youths whom many have chosen to join the opposition Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), and other parties which have appeared to sympathize with their ordeal.

END.

NGOs cast doubt on Constitutional Review Bill

By Elias Mhegera

WHILE Tanzanians are still collecting views on the proposed Bill for the Constitutional Review many are casting doubt whether the amended changes will suffice the expected aspirations.

Meeting at the Dar es Salaam International Conference Centre on Tuesday this week was a convention of NGOs dealing with civic education, human rights and the media.

The conference was organized by the Tanzania Development Initiative Programme (TADIP), in collaboration with the Konrad Adenaeur Stiftung (KAS). A range of issues were discussed on the efficacy of the amendments to be done.

The main presenters were Prof Chris Maina and Bashiru Ally from the University of Dar es Salaam, Steven Mmbogo programme manager TADIP, while the chairperson of the event was Ms Rose Mwakitwange.

                                                              

The theme of the discussion was “Will the Constitution Review Reflect and Deliver up to the Will of the People?” the general consensus was that the process has started with a wrong approach hence wrong conclusion.

Presenting his paper Prof Maina said it was true that there is a need to enact a new Constitution but the way the Bill has been presented reflects that the Government is ushering for constitutional amendments.

Elaborating further he said calls for a new Constitution have been taking new turns from time to time. For instance it was more pronounced in 1965 after this country was turned into a single party state under the leadership of the founding father Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.

He further reminds that the call subsided for sometime just to resurface in 1984 but the whole movement collapsed after it was again quashed. This wave was to resurface from early 90s after the collapse of the former USSR and its satellite states.

Prof Maina says the global transition to multiparty politics swept Tanzania as well to the extent that it reintroduced political pluralism in 1992 but retaining the Government machinery and Constitution that made the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi to enjoy supremacy above all other institutions.

He therefore challenges that such a political legacy cannot be left to go on unchanged in the current situation. He also mentions that the fact that Zanzibar has a new Constitution under the structure of a Government of National Unity (GNU), which has automatically ousted the Revolutionary Governemnt of Zanzibar which is recognized in the Union Constitution.

On his part Mmbogo said the Bill is unfriendly and could spell doom the fate of constitutional formation taking into consideration that it has been challenged almost everywhere when people discuss it.

Contributing to the debate the Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) Secretary General, Dr Willibrod Slaa said due to the sensitivity of the debate public hearings could have been extended in many other parts of this country than conducting its in three stations of Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and        Zanzibar. 

This view was shared by the National Convention for Construction and Reforms (NCCR), Secretary General Sam Ruhuza who said the Bill indicates that the process will not deliver what people were expecting therefore it should be returned to the people. 

END

PRESSURIZE FOR A NEW CONSTITUTION IN TANZANIA

By Elias Mhegera

CONTINUOUS mass rally to pressurize for a new Constitution has been cited as a major tool for a peaceful democratic transition in Tanzania.

The call was made on Tuesday in Dar es Salaam during a one day constitutional forum workshop that was organized by the Tanzania Centre for Democracy (TCD).

The main opposition party Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo Chadema (CHADEMA), Training Director Singo Benson said that the language that is being used by the opposition parties to call for the rewriting of the new constitution will never be understood by the government.

He said that the public should increase pressure including peaceful demonstration to express their deep public outcry of the new constitution in Tanzania.

Benson added that TCD should be the centre for changes on the new constitution by preparing another conference that would include civil rights groups, political parties, NGOs, religious leaders and academicians.

He further said that the new constitutional referendum should involve ordinary Tanzanians in the process of drafting it to ensure the new constitution to serve the interest of the people.

On his part the Registrar of Political Parties John Tendwa said those agitating for a new constitution have a strong point that should be taken into consideration.

He added that any changes should reflect the national interest rather than parties’ interest in order to protect the country’s natural resources, peace and harmony.

“We can sit down as a nation to set one goal for the purpose of serving the national interest,” he added.

The Bariadi West MP John Cheyo said that the new constitution debate should start from the grassroots level to sensitize people from the rural areas.

He said that citizens from the rural sector deserve to be educated on the importance of the new constitution while will also paving the way for their participation.

In another development Friday last week turned out to be the day for the wide cry for the new Constitution in Tanzania, while marking the Universal Declaration for Human Rights

Human rights activists, politicians, students religious leaders or were calling for the overhauling of the Constitution which they say is outdated and cannot suffice today’s demand.

The Universal Declaration for Human Rights (UDHR) was an international instrument to meet standards in which all human beings are entitled by the virtue of being humans.

As it turned out during the demonstration, presentations, and even during the normal conversations at the Diamond Jubilee all Tanzanians are now eagerly waiting for the new Constitution.

Out of the twenty placards during the demonstration, thirteen were calling for the new constitution. An indication that very soon in this country people will witness the process of overhauling the existing Constitution.

The occasion was sponsored by the Ford Foundation, SIDA, Norwegian People’s Aid, and the Foundation for Civil Society. The message called for the media to champion a vital role in educating the masses on the need for a new constitution.

Salum Baruani the Lindi Urban MP explained at length on the problems of human rights violation in Tanzania, extrajudicial killings, and also the need for a new constitution which is accepted by all Tanzanians.

He said that human rights must be manifested in equality, the right to live, freedom of expression, social responsibility and separation of powers in the governing constitution.

The Kenya Ambassador to Tanzania Mutinda Mutiso responding to The Express exclusively at the Diamond Jubilee Hall, he said among other things Kenyans had already set a pace for the new constitution during the Orange VS Banana Opinion Poll, well before the post election violence.

Dr Sengondo Mvungi of The University of Bagamoyo (UB) says that the fact only 40 percent of registered voters turned out during the election day it is an indication that people do not have any more trust with the constitution and the Electoral Commission the instrument which are supposed to enshrine the democratic practice.

The Vice President of the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), Ibrahim Bendera says the debate on the new constitution is vital because of its impact in many aspects of life. He sees the document as crucial politically, economically and socially.

Therefore he concurs with activists in the call for a new constitution because they have felt the need due to the fact they are denied some basic rights in the existing constitution.

“People cannot remain just as observers in the running of their country, they need to participate, the existing constitution of 1977 was meant for a single party, it can not suffice in a multiparty system,” he said.

He therefore challenged the government that if people have lost their trust in the existing constitution, then they must be given the right to overhaul it; this is their right and not a favour. 

The lawyer said that if Tanzania will not allow for smooth transition towards a new constitution that will set grounds for forceful changes, as it happened in Kenya, which might affect peace and tranquility currently existing in this country.

End

MAJI MAJI AWARD FOR DR WILLBROD SLAA

By Elias Mhegera

THE Executive Director of the Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA) Ms Ananilea Nkya has seconded issuing of the Maji Maji Award to the opposition CHADEMA leader Dr Willibrod Slaa.

She said the award was an indication that Tanzanians do appreciate the good work that the Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) secretary general and former MP for Karatu, for 15 years consecutively form 1995-2015 did in representing his people.

The Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) awarded Dr Slaa following his superb performance particularly in the last five years when he stood high in unveiling various corruption scandals.

The award was issued to him on Friday last week at the LHRC headquarters in Dar es Salaam. “This is a challenge to the new MPs who entered the Parliament in this year’s General Election,” she said.

She condemned all MPs who entered the august House after having bribed their voters, or those who are alleged to have rigged the election, “I do not admire anyone who rigged the election at all,” she said.

She called for ethical leadership and that the new MPs will corner effectively the government when it goes astray. She added that Dr Slaa was a symbol of eagerness for change that all politicians should aim to.

She warned the increased tendency where leadership is taken as a vehicle for self enrichment than service to the people. She called for the current Parliament to find an ending solution to problems like electricity and inflation.

Ms Nkya condemned the abuse of the august House in clearing names of some politicians whose reputations have been tarnished badly due to a series of scandals that they were involved in.

A fervent activist who recently during the election campaigns was threatened by deregistering her organization TAMWA, said that Tanzanian legislators  should find a way to reduce or get rid of the social stratification process in terms of the rich and the have nots.

Ms Nkya re called for the joint effort of activists in this country in order to demand for a new Constitution that will cater for today’s needs.

END

NCCR STOPS THE CONSTITUTIONAL BILL

By Elias Mhegera

The National Convention for Construction and Reform (NCCR) has called for the immediate stoppage of the Constitutional Review Bill’s debate to be tabled in the Parliament.

Before the media on Sunday last week was its chairman James Mbatia who convened the media in order to deliver the party’s position in the ongoing debate. He was categorical that the constitution debate has brought total confusion in this country, and being delicate as it is, it could plunge this nation into chaos if it is not handled well.

Mbatia was flanked by the party’s chief legal advisor and prominent member Dr Sengondo Mvungi and the party’s secretary general Sam Ruhuza. Oh his party in an exclusive interview with The Express Dr Mvungi was perplexed by the tone of the Bill, while Ruhuza sensed chaos if the Government was not to allow a new constitution in place.

The NCCR boss claims that the Bill has indicated that there is an intention to copy and paste the Kenyan model which after all is not applicable to the Union Government of Tanzania.

Mbatia directs the blame to two bodies, first it is the Union Governemnt under President Jakaya Kikwete, which he says has confused people that even after knowing that what they aim is a totally new constitution but it has decided to table down a Bill for the review of the existing one which he dubs as outdated due to the fact that it was formulated during the single party era where the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), was dominant.

“I am surprised to see that the Bill on discussion is directing us to review the constitution which people have already rejected, this is wastage of resources and time and it should be stopped immediately,” he rattled.

His blame to the Zanzibar Government is the confusion that it has created, in the first place he congratulated them for forming a new constitution which caters for the isles situation, but he was surprised to see there is still a talk of the ‘Revolutionary Governemnt’ while in actual sense what exists now is the Governemnt of National Unity (GNU).

He said the new constitution in Zanzibar has sidelined the Tanzania mainland, and for that matter he called for the mainlanders to discuss their constitution after being abandoned by their fellow Tanzanians in the isles. He noted that since when a new constitution was enacted in Zanzibar, political matters have changed substantively.

He cites the fact that while the constitution of the Union caters for both the isles and mainland Tanzania but Zanzibar’s president is increasingly becoming autonomous with two vice presidents

“We have heard of how the Bill was torn apart in front of Samuel Sitta the former Speaker of the National Assembly and current minister for East Africa Cooperation, we were not invited when they discussed their constitution, it is better we discuss ours first and then invite them for the Union constitution,” said Mbatia who however affirmed that he is not against the Union but its structure.

END



MALARIA REMAINS A LEADING CAUSE OF DEATHS IN TANZANIA

By Elias Mhegera

IT has been revealed that Malaria remains the leading cause of both morbidity and mortality in Tanzania, especially among young children.

And this is happening despite a 50-percent reduction in infection rates over the past decade. According to a research that was conducted by David Montez a research analyst recently, it is clear that there is an ongoing need to educate the public about malaria's causes and methods of preventing infection.

In the report conducted under the tile Health Education Needs in Tanzania, the Audience Scopes survey included a module to measure people's access to information in general, and access to health information in particular, as well as access to health services. The data yielded some guidelines for public health professionals seeking to educate the public about malaria.

The survey indicated that the national and local radio continues to play a significant role in delivering malaria information to at-risk populations. However, word-of-mouth networks also require attention from public health workers, particularly among socioeconomically constrained populations with low levels of access to media outlets. 

The survey also revealed that a large proportion of Tanzanians across the country said that they have access to clinics and medical doctors. However, there is great variability among respondents from different regions regarding the usefulness of medical doctors as a source of information about malaria.

Consequently, it was revealed that there is a need for increased outreach to clinics and hospitals in high-risk provinces of the country like Kagera, Mwanza and Mtwara, where infection rates are twice the national average.

A majority of survey respondents said that they receive enough information about malaria prevention. However, malaria also is one of the health issues that many Tanzanians say they want more information about.

This suggests a case of improper messaging, whether it is ineffective framing of the issue or the use of inappropriate communication mediums, and the need for improved message testing. 

The survey learnt that international development NGOs, in cooperation with the Tanzanian government, have been highly active in this East African country over the past decade, distributing more than 8 million insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) to vulnerable populations.

These actions, coupled with a national malaria behavior-change communications campaign in late 2007, helped to cut in half the disease’s national infection rate, however, many areas still have high rates of infection, notably the provinces of Kagera, Mara and Mwanza, which border Lake Victoria, and Lindi and Mtwara on the south-eastern coast, according to a 2007/2008 Tanzania HIV and Malaria Indicator Survey.

This survey also had wanted to know how public health officials best can reach Tanzanians in need of information about malaria and as a result the survey data came up with some clues. 

It discovered that the radio continues to be the main go-to source for news and entertainment for most of the population, with television remaining a luxury for those outside major urban centers. The large majority of TV viewers residing outside of Dar es Salaam tend to watch TV outside the home.

In most provinces, less than half of TV viewers said they watch at home. Overall, the importance of television as a source for either news or health communication increases in areas like the capital where weekly TV viewership is twice the national average.

While this survey is only a snapshot in time, on the surface it seems that information campaigns looking to expose Tanzanians to information about malaria have been successful.

Nationally and in each province, about three quarters of all respondents said they had received malaria information in at least the past week. Even among women of birthing age, a key target group for malaria prevention, more than 80 percent said they had received information in the past week, regardless of whether they lived in an urban or rural area.

Despite this availability of information, malaria also emerged as a leading health topic that respondents want more information about. This suggests a strategic problem with malaria messaging, perhaps ineffective framing of the issue or the use of inappropriate communication mediums. 

It was revealed that the level of an individual's consumption of news media appears to influence their level of exposure to information about malaria. Indeed, the 17 percent of our sample who had not received malaria information during the past month or longer (low access), were also significantly less likely to be daily or weekly consumers of news media (radio or television).

Note that about 64 percent of the low-access group resides in households earning $2 a day or less. In addition, 76 percent of the people in this group have only a primary education or less.

Interestingly, this low-access group has similar levels of access to health clinics and medical doctors as do those with high access to malaria information. This seems to have resulted in an equal use of medical doctors as a source for information on malaria.

END

 

MJADALA WA KATIBA MPYA TANZANIA

Na Elias Mhegera

HALI haikuwa ya kawaida pale washiriki wa mdahalo wa muswaada wa uanzishwaji wa katiba mpya walipotofautiana juu ya nini hasa kifanyike baada ya serikali kuonekana inadhamiria kuendeleza viraka katika katiba iliyopo kwa sasa.  

Kelele za kusema ‘tunapotezewa muda’zilianza pale wanazuoni wawili Prof Chris Maina na mwenzake Bw Bashiru Ally wote wa Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam walipoanza kuupitia muswaada huo kipengele kwa kipengele na kujiridhisha kwamba serikali hain a lengo la kuunda katiba mpya bali kuitrejea iliyopo ambayo tayari imepigiwa sana kelele na makundi mbali mbali ya kijamii nchiniTanzania.

Mada ya mjadala huo uliofanyika katika ukumbi wa kimataifa waq mikutano katika jengo la PPF ilikuwa “Mabadiliko ya Katiba ya Nchi Mwaka 2011; Je, mchakato unaopendekezwa utazaa katiba inayotokana na matakwa ya wanachi? Kimsingi jibu kutoka ukumbini lilikuwa hapana!

Mdahalo huo chini ya uenyekiti wa Bi. Rose Mwakitwange uliandaliwa na Tanzania Development Initiative Programme (TADIP), kwa kushirikiana na Konrad Adenaeur Stiftung (KAS), pamoja na kujadili mambo kadhaa muhimu pia ulihudhuriwa na makundi mbali mbali ya wanaharakati na wawakilishi kutoka vyama vya siasa.

Naye meneja wa programu wa TADIP Steven Mmbogo aliwaomba wachangiaji katika mjadala huo wasiwe na woga wowote kwani nchi hii ni mali ya Watanzania wote na hakuna mtu wala kikundi chenye haki miliki ya kuitawala.

“Ninaomba kuwataarifu wanakonagamano kwamba ni lazima tujiridhishea iwapo muswaada huu utakidhi viwango na kama jambo hilo haliwezekani basi tutoe kauli yetu kuashiria jambo hilo.

Miongoni mwa wanakongamano waliokuwapo viongozi wa vyama kama vile Katibu Mkuu wa Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA),  Dkt Willibrod Slaa, na yule wa chama cha National Convention for Construction and Reforms, Sam Ruhuza.

“Ingawaje Rais Jakaya Kikwete aliahidi kwamba ataanzisha mchakato wa wanachi kujitengenezea katiba mpya lakini uzoefu wa mtindo na lugha iliyotumika unadhihirisha kwamba hapatakuwapo na katiba mpya bali marejeo ya katiba iliyopo, ni juu yenu kumau ni vipi tutasonga mbele katika mchakato huu,” alisema Prof Maina.

Mwanasheria huyo maarufu aliyebobea katiku utaalamu wa katiba alisema wataalamu wa kompyuta wana usemi wa Kiingereza, ‘garbage in garbage out’ ihivyo basi wapo mchakato wenyewe hivi ndivyo ulivyoanza basi unadhihrisha kwamba wananchi hawatapata kile walichokitarajia.

Alisema makelele yaliyojitokeza ukumbini Karimjee na hata Dodoma yanaashiria kwamba wananchi wengi hawajaridhishwa na muswaada ulioletwa na serikali tayari kwa kupokea mawazo ya wadau mbali mbali na wananchi wote kwa ujumla.

Ni baada ya kutoa kauli hiyo ndipo wanakongamano walisikika wakisema “tunapoteza muda, tunataka katiba mpya na wala si kuirejea iliyopo,”  ni hapo mwenyekiti alipoomba ushauri wa Prof Maina ambaye alishauri kwamba wananchi wasiache mijadala inayoendelea bali waitumie vizuri zaidi kwa kufikisha ujmbe wao.

Akiirejea historia ya madai ya katiba mpya Prof Maina alisema kilio cha kwanza kikubwa kilianza pale ambapo Tanzania iligeuzwa kuwa nchi ya chama kimoja mwaka 1965, na kuanzia wakati huo kelele hizo zimekuwa zikipotea na kurejea mara kadhaa kulingana na mazingira husika.

Lakini kelele kubwa zilisikika tena mwaka 1984 ambapo vugu vugu hilo lilizimishwa ghafla na kukawa na ukimya kwa mika kadhaa hadi hapo miaka ya mwanzo ya 1990 baada ya kusambaratika dola la iliyokuwa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Kisovieti, vugu vugu hilo ndilo lililosababisha kurejeshwa kwa mfumo wa vyama vingi nchini Tanzania.

Prof Maina alisema kilio cha sasa cha katiba kimetokana na ukweli kwamba kuanzia mwaka 1992 ni Chama Cha Mapinduzi pekee ambacho kimeendelea kuhodhi madaraka hali ambayo imewanyima Watanzania wengine kushiriki katika mchakato wa kisiasa kwa sababu wagombea binafsi hawaruhusiwe katika nchi hii.

Msomi huyo hakusita kuzirejea tume kadhaa ikiwamo ile ya marehemu Jaji Francis Nyalali, Jaji Robert Kisanga na ambavyo zilishindwa kuleta kile ambacho Watanzania walikitarajia. Alisema moja yapo ya changamoto ya tume hizo ni kule kupangiwa hadidu za rejea na maswali yasiyotoa nafasi kwa wanaojibu kueleza hisia zao.

“Nadhani wanakongamano mnakumbuka jinsi ambavyo Rais Mstaafu Benjamin Mkapa alivyokerwa na kitendo cha Jaji Kisanga kutamka baadhi ya mambo ambayo hayakuwamo katika hadidu za rejea,” alisema Maina.

Mwanazuoni huyo alisema kwamba litakuwa jambo la ajabu iwapo Watanzania hawatadai katiba yao kwa sababu tayari Wazanzibar wamejitengenezea katiba yao ambayo inatambua Serikali ya Umoja Kitaifa ambayo kimsingi imetengua Serikali ya Mapinduzi ambayo katiba ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania bado inaitambua.

 Naye Bashiru Ally alisema tatizo kubwa hapa Tanzania ni kutaka kutumia sheria ili kuondoa mamlaka ya kisiasa, “sheria na katiba ni lazima vikiji malengo ya kisiasa na wala siyo kugandamiza malengo hayo,” aliseama mhadhiri huyo.

Naye Bw Mmbogo alisema tayari muswaada umeonyesha kupingwa takrin kila mahali pale ulipojadiliwa hali inayoashiria kwamba kuna matatizo au muswada wenyewe haukidhi viwango na kwa maana hiyo hauna tija kwa wanachi.

Naye Dkt Slaa alisema kulingana na unyeti wa mjadala wa katiba ilitakiwa vituo vya mijadala viongezeke ili kuwafikia wananchi wengi zaidi badala ya hali ya sasa ambapo mijadala hiyo ilifanyika Dar es Salaam. Dodoma na Zanzibar. Alisema kwa mtindo mawazo ya wananchi wengi yameachwa nje wakati yangekusanywa yangesaidia katika kupata katiba nzuri zaidi.

Mwisho

MJADALA WA KATIBA

Na Elias Mhegera

HALI haikuwa ya kawaida pale washiriki wa mdahalo wa muswaada wa uanzishwaji wa katiba mpya walipotofautiana juu ya nini hasa kifanyike baada ya serikali kuonekana inadhamiria kuendeleza viraka katika katiba iliyopo kwa sasa.  

Kelele za kusema ‘tunapotezewa muda’zilianza pale wanazuoni wawili Prof Chris Maina na mwenzake Bw Bashiru Ally wote wa Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam walipoanza kuupitia muswaada huo kipengele kwa kipengele na kujiridhisha kwamba serikali hain a lengo la kuunda katiba mpya bali kuitrejea iliyopo ambayo tayari imepigiwa sana kelele na makundi mbali mbali ya kijamii nchiniTanzania.

Mada ya mjadala huo uliofanyika katika ukumbi wa kimataifa waq mikutano katika jengo la PPF ilikuwa “Mabadiliko ya Katiba ya Nchi Mwaka 2011; Je, mchakato unaopendekezwa utazaa katiba inayotokana na matakwa ya wanachi? Kimsingi jibu kutoka ukumbini lilikuwa hapana!

Mdahalo huo chini ya uenyekiti wa Bi. Rose Mwakitwange uliandaliwa na Tanzania Development Initiative Programme (TADIP), kwa kushirikiana na Konrad Adenaeur Stiftung (KAS), pamoja na kujadili mambo kadhaa muhimu pia ulihudhuriwa na makundi mbali mbali ya wanaharakati na wawakilishi kutoka vyama vya siasa.

Naye meneja wa programu wa TADIP Steven Mmbogo aliwaomba wachangiaji katika mjadala huo wasiwe na woga wowote kwani nchi hii ni mali ya Watanzania wote na hakuna mtu wala kikundi chenye haki miliki ya kuitawala.

“Ninaomba kuwataarifu wanakonagamano kwamba ni lazima tujiridhishea iwapo muswaada huu utakidhi viwango na kama jambo hilo haliwezekani basi tutoe kauli yetu kuashiria jambo hilo.

Miongoni mwa wanakongamano waliokuwapo viongozi wa vyama kama vile Katibu Mkuu wa Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA),  Dkt Willibrod Slaa, na yule wa chama cha National Convention for Construction and Reforms, Sam Ruhuza.

“Ingawaje Rais Jakaya Kikwete aliahidi kwamba ataanzisha mchakato wa wanachi kujitengenezea katiba mpya lakini uzoefu wa mtindo na lugha iliyotumika unadhihirisha kwamba hapatakuwapo na katiba mpya bali marejeo ya katiba iliyopo, ni juu yenu kumau ni vipi tutasonga mbele katika mchakato huu,” alisema Prof Maina.

Mwanasheria huyo maarufu aliyebobea katiku utaalamu wa katiba alisema wataalamu wa kompyuta wana usemi wa Kiingereza, ‘garbage in garbage out’ ihivyo basi wapo mchakato wenyewe hivi ndivyo ulivyoanza basi unadhihrisha kwamba wananchi hawatapata kile walichokitarajia.

Alisema makelele yaliyojitokeza ukumbini Karimjee na hata Dodoma yanaashiria kwamba wananchi wengi hawajaridhishwa na muswaada ulioletwa na serikali tayari kwa kupokea mawazo ya wadau mbali mbali na wananchi wote kwa ujumla.

Ni baada ya kutoa kauli hiyo ndipo wanakongamano walisikika wakisema “tunapoteza muda, tunataka katiba mpya na wala si kuirejea iliyopo,”  ni hapo mwenyekiti alipoomba ushauri wa Prof Maina ambaye alishauri kwamba wananchi wasiache mijadala inayoendelea bali waitumie vizuri zaidi kwa kufikisha ujmbe wao.

Akiirejea historia ya madai ya katiba mpya Prof Maina alisema kilio cha kwanza kikubwa kilianza pale ambapo Tanzania iligeuzwa kuwa nchi ya chama kimoja mwaka 1965, na kuanzia wakati huo kelele hizo zimekuwa zikipotea na kurejea mara kadhaa kulingana na mazingira husika.

Lakini kelele kubwa zilisikika tena mwaka 1984 ambapo vugu vugu hilo lilizimishwa ghafla na kukawa na ukimya kwa mika kadhaa hadi hapo miaka ya mwanzo ya 1990 baada ya kusambaratika dola la iliyokuwa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Kisovieti, vugu vugu hilo ndilo lililosababisha kurejeshwa kwa mfumo wa vyama vingi nchini Tanzania.

Prof Maina alisema kilio cha sasa cha katiba kimetokana na ukweli kwamba kuanzia mwaka 1992 ni Chama Cha Mapinduzi pekee ambacho kimeendelea kuhodhi madaraka hali ambayo imewanyima Watanzania wengine kushiriki katika mchakato wa kisiasa kwa sababu wagombea binafsi hawaruhusiwe katika nchi hii.

Msomi huyo hakusita kuzirejea tume kadhaa ikiwamo ile ya marehemu Jaji Francis Nyalali, Jaji Robert Kisanga na ambavyo zilishindwa kuleta kile ambacho Watanzania walikitarajia. Alisema moja yapo ya changamoto ya tume hizo ni kule kupangiwa hadidu za rejea na maswali yasiyotoa nafasi kwa wanaojibu kueleza hisia zao.

“Nadhani wanakongamano mnakumbuka jinsi ambavyo Rais Mstaafu Benjamin Mkapa alivyokerwa na kitendo cha Jaji Kisanga kutamka baadhi ya mambo ambayo hayakuwamo katika hadidu za rejea,” alisema Maina.

Mwanazuoni huyo alisema kwamba litakuwa jambo la ajabu iwapo Watanzania hawatadai katiba yao kwa sababu tayari Wazanzibar wamejitengenezea katiba yao ambayo inatambua Serikali ya Umoja Kitaifa ambayo kimsingi imetengua Serikali ya Mapinduzi ambayo katiba ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania bado inaitambua.

 Naye Bashiru Ally alisema tatizo kubwa hapa Tanzania ni kutaka kutumia sheria ili kuondoa mamlaka ya kisiasa, “sheria na katiba ni lazima vikiji malengo ya kisiasa na wala siyo kugandamiza malengo hayo,” aliseama mhadhiri huyo.

Naye Bw Mmbogo alisema tayari muswaada umeonyesha kupingwa takrin kila mahali pale ulipojadiliwa hali inayoashiria kwamba kuna matatizo au muswada wenyewe haukidhi viwango na kwa maana hiyo hauna tija kwa wanachi.

Naye Dkt Slaa alisema kulingana na unyeti wa mjadala wa katiba ilitakiwa vituo vya mijadala viongezeke ili kuwafikia wananchi wengi zaidi badala ya hali ya sasa ambapo mijadala hiyo ilifanyika Dar es Salaam. Dodoma na Zanzibar. Alisema kwa mtindo mawazo ya wananchi wengi yameachwa nje wakati yangekusanywa yangesaidia katika kupata katiba nzuri zaidi.

Mwisho

NGOs zaupinga mswaada wa sheria ya kuanzishwa kwa katiba mpya

Na Elias Mhegera

HALI haikuwa ya kawaida pale washiriki wa mdahalo wa muswaada wa uanzishwaji wa katiba mpya walipotofautiana juu ya nini hasa kifanyike baada ya serikali kuonekana inadhamiria kuendeleza viraka katika katiba iliyopo kwa sasa.  

Kelele za kusema ‘tunapotezewa muda’zilianza pale wanazuoni wawili Prof Chris Maina na mwenzake Bw Bashiru Ally wote wa Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam walipoanza kuupitia muswaada huo kipengele kwa kipengele na kujiridhisha kwamba serikali hain a lengo la kuunda katiba mpya bali kuitrejea iliyopo ambayo tayari imepigiwa sana kelele na makundi mbali mbali ya kijamii nchiniTanzania.

Mada ya mjadala huo uliofanyika katika ukumbi wa kimataifa waq mikutano katika jengo la PPF ilikuwa “Mabadiliko ya Katiba ya Nchi Mwaka 2011; Je, mchakato unaopendekezwa utazaa katiba inayotokana na matakwa ya wanachi? Kimsingi jibu kutoka ukumbini lilikuwa hapana!

Mdahalo huo chini ya uenyekiti wa Bi. Rose Mwakitwange uliandaliwa na Tanzania Development Initiative Programme (TADIP), kwa kushirikiana na Konrad Adenaeur Stiftung (KAS), pamoja na kujadili mambo kadhaa muhimu pia ulihudhuriwa na makundi mbali mbali ya wanaharakati na wawakilishi kutoka vyama vya siasa.

Naye meneja wa programu wa TADIP Steven Mmbogo aliwaomba wachangiaji katika mjadala huo wasiwe na woga wowote kwani nchi hii ni mali ya Watanzania wote na hakuna mtu wala kikundi chenye haki miliki ya kuitawala.

“Ninaomba kuwataarifu wanakonagamano kwamba ni lazima tujiridhishea iwapo muswaada huu utakidhi viwango na kama jambo hilo haliwezekani basi tutoe kauli yetu kuashiria jambo hilo.

Miongoni mwa wanakongamano waliokuwapo viongozi wa vyama kama vile Katibu Mkuu wa Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA),  Dkt Willibrod Slaa, na yule wa chama cha National Convention for Construction and Reforms, Sam Ruhuza.

“Ingawaje Rais Jakaya Kikwete aliahidi kwamba ataanzisha mchakato wa wanachi kujitengenezea katiba mpya lakini uzoefu wa mtindo na lugha iliyotumika unadhihirisha kwamba hapatakuwapo na katiba mpya bali marejeo ya katiba iliyopo, ni juu yenu kumau ni vipi tutasonga mbele katika mchakato huu,” alisema Prof Maina.

Mwanasheria huyo maarufu aliyebobea katiku utaalamu wa katiba alisema wataalamu wa kompyuta wana usemi wa Kiingereza, ‘garbage in garbage out’ ihivyo basi wapo mchakato wenyewe hivi ndivyo ulivyoanza basi unadhihrisha kwamba wananchi hawatapata kile walichokitarajia.

Alisema makelele yaliyojitokeza ukumbini Karimjee na hata Dodoma yanaashiria kwamba wananchi wengi hawajaridhishwa na muswaada ulioletwa na serikali tayari kwa kupokea mawazo ya wadau mbali mbali na wananchi wote kwa ujumla.

Ni baada ya kutoa kauli hiyo ndipo wanakongamano walisikika wakisema “tunapoteza muda, tunataka katiba mpya na wala si kuirejea iliyopo,”  ni hapo mwenyekiti alipoomba ushauri wa Prof Maina ambaye alishauri kwamba wananchi wasiache mijadala inayoendelea bali waitumie vizuri zaidi kwa kufikisha ujmbe wao.

Akiirejea historia ya madai ya katiba mpya Prof Maina alisema kilio cha kwanza kikubwa kilianza pale ambapo Tanzania iligeuzwa kuwa nchi ya chama kimoja mwaka 1965, na kuanzia wakati huo kelele hizo zimekuwa zikipotea na kurejea mara kadhaa kulingana na mazingira husika.

Lakini kelele kubwa zilisikika tena mwaka 1984 ambapo vugu vugu hilo lilizimishwa ghafla na kukawa na ukimya kwa mika kadhaa hadi hapo miaka ya mwanzo ya 1990 baada ya kusambaratika dola la iliyokuwa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Kisovieti, vugu vugu hilo ndilo lililosababisha kurejeshwa kwa mfumo wa vyama vingi nchini Tanzania.

Prof Maina alisema kilio cha sasa cha katiba kimetokana na ukweli kwamba kuanzia mwaka 1992 ni Chama Cha Mapinduzi pekee ambacho kimeendelea kuhodhi madaraka hali ambayo imewanyima Watanzania wengine kushiriki katika mchakato wa kisiasa kwa sababu wagombea binafsi hawaruhusiwe katika nchi hii.

Msomi huyo hakusita kuzirejea tume kadhaa ikiwamo ile ya marehemu Jaji Francis Nyalali, Jaji Robert Kisanga na ambavyo zilishindwa kuleta kile ambacho Watanzania walikitarajia. Alisema moja yapo ya changamoto ya tume hizo ni kule kupangiwa hadidu za rejea na maswali yasiyotoa nafasi kwa wanaojibu kueleza hisia zao.

“Nadhani wanakongamano mnakumbuka jinsi ambavyo Rais Mstaafu Benjamin Mkapa alivyokerwa na kitendo cha Jaji Kisanga kutamka baadhi ya mambo ambayo hayakuwamo katika hadidu za rejea,” alisema Maina.

Mwanazuoni huyo alisema kwamba litakuwa jambo la ajabu iwapo Watanzania hawatadai katiba yao kwa sababu tayari Wazanzibar wamejitengenezea katiba yao ambayo inatambua Serikali ya Umoja Kitaifa ambayo kimsingi imetengua Serikali ya Mapinduzi ambayo katiba ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania bado inaitambua.

 Naye Bashiru Ally alisema tatizo kubwa hapa Tanzania ni kutaka kutumia sheria ili kuondoa mamlaka ya kisiasa, “sheria na katiba ni lazima vikiji malengo ya kisiasa na wala siyo kugandamiza malengo hayo,” aliseama mhadhiri huyo.

Naye Bw Mmbogo alisema tayari muswaada umeonyesha kupingwa takrin kila mahali pale ulipojadiliwa hali inayoashiria kwamba kuna matatizo au muswada wenyewe haukidhi viwango na kwa maana hiyo hauna tija kwa wanachi.

Naye Dkt Slaa alisema kulingana na unyeti wa mjadala wa katiba ilitakiwa vituo vya mijadala viongezeke ili kuwafikia wananchi wengi zaidi badala ya hali ya sasa ambapo mijadala hiyo ilifanyika Dar es Salaam. Dodoma na Zanzibar. Alisema kwa mtindo mawazo ya wananchi wengi yameachwa nje wakati yangekusanywa yangesaidia katika kupata katiba nzuri zaidi.

Mwisho