KEPA joins hand in efforts to find an amicable constitution…

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By Elias Mhegera

The call to respect people’s voices in the process of formulating a new constitution has reached a high peak as the civil society organizations (CSOs) are championing for their rightful position.

Many debates have been conducted so far in support or opposition to the three-tier government structure that was proposed by the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) which was chaired by the former Premier Joseph Warioba.

One of such fruitful efforts was convened by Kepa an international NGO originating from Finland in collaboration with other NGOs like the Tanzania Constitutional Forum, well known in its Kiswahili acronym of JUKATA and the Tanzania Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (TANGO).

The main discussion was centred on the theme “New Constitution for CSOs rights-based advocacy work”. Explaining the essence of the seminar was Mr Masud Hossain the Kepa-Tanzania country’s director who said human rights are essential in guaranteeing democratic rights and improving governance in general.

 “Kepa is a stakeholder being an NGO, and for the fact that the CSOs are becoming more serious partners in development, therefore the meaning of this seminar is to chart out how NGOs can make a positive contribution in the formulation of the new constitution from a CSOs perspective,” he said.

Further, he challenged CSOs in Tanzania to enhance their position and take their rightful position in the systems of check and balance emulating the Finnish model which he boasted that has been appreciated as the homeland of associations.

Speaking on the development of NGOs in Tanzania was Zaa Twalangeti, Programme Manager at TANGO who highlighted on how the CSOs now have become a institutions to reckon with in the power fabric of Tanzania.

“In the 1990’s, Tanzania was spurred on by a liberal market ideology and economic instruments, and through disillusionment with the post-independence one party-state, the civil society shifted its fight to poverty and economic hardships brought about by under-development…

“This time around the role of civil society spanned the political arena and became an instrument for promoting the well-being, influencing public policy, reducing poverty and administering humanitarian aid”. He said.

This statement was a reference to how political parties have dominated the Katiba process particularly the formation of a new federation whether to retain a slightly modified two-tier Government or to establish altogether a three-tier Government which the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has vigorously rejected.

But Humprey Polepole a Commissioner from the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) is bold in defending the Warioba’s Commission which came up with the three-tier Government much to the jubilation of the CSOs, opposition parties and the citizenry at large in Mainland Tanzania.

He disclosed that if the new constitution is to be approved and become operational will have many provisions which adhere to the Bill of Human Rights than the previous one of 1977.

“Development organizations should work in ways which strengthen accountability of governments to people living in poverty, particularly ensuring that citizen’s can hold governments to account in regard to human rights obligations” he said.

He revealed that human rights were given an impetus because the focus was to have a long-term working constitution which also adherers to international standards given the fact that now there are many interactions globally which also seeks for more accountability and transparency.

“Human rights-based approaches to development ‘empowers’ the beneficiaries of development, by making them the active participants of the development process, and by giving greater legitimacy and moral force to their demands,” he added.

Responding to these presentations was Mr Deus Kibamba the chairman of Jukwaa la Katiba (JUKATA) who said that good as it is the Draft Bill did leave certain elements of ambiguity which needs to be worked upon by the CSOs.

He said that there was a need of a thorough research on the implications of reducing Union matters from 22 as per the 1977 constitution to seven. He reminded that in the 1964 there were 11 issues which were doubled to 22 in 1977.

He also queried that there was no enough media engagement in order to enlighten citizens. Moreover, he questioned the extent of dialogue in analyzing issues, shortage of capacity building and even coming up with clear terms of reference.

It was during the debate that issues of divergence from the CSOs cropped up.  For instance Bubelwa Kaiza the executive director of the Concern for Development Initiatives in Africa (ForDIA) said that some NGOs in Tanzania are not serious therefore causing disharmony in the working of the CSOs.

But this was reduced by Israel Ilunde, Executive Director, Youth Partnership Countrywide (YPC) who said that the CSOs operate under very difficult circumstances from lacking resources both human and financial which cripples their working. “In my case I approve the efforts by the NGOs so far,” he said.

It was decided that NGOs should form strong networks in order to enhance their position when championing for people’s rights and other democratic requirements. Also it was decided that CSOs in Tanzania should amplify the provision of civic education and debates on pertinent issues which have been neglected.

Photo

Chairman of the now defunct Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), retired judge, Joseph Warioba