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politicians, students religious leaders or were calling for the overhauling of the Constitution which they say is outdated and cannot suffice today’s demand.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

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