The Constituent Assembly (CA) resumes tomorrow after it was adjourned on April 25, 2014 to pave the way for the budget session for the 2014/15 financial year.
Wasira made the remarks when addressing Tanzanians who attended the constitution debate organised by the University of Dar es Salaam’s Academic Staff Assembly (Udasa) at Nkrumah Hall in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
“The debate on government structure is no longer a priority … there are many other issues highlighted in the draft constitution that have to be discussed,” Wasira said, mentioning them as human rights, women, and children rights and public services ethics.
According to him, the constitution is not only about the government structure. He insisted that CA members are discussing the draft that was presented by the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) under Justice Joseph Warioba.
A University of Dar es Salaam don and Udasa member, Dr Kitila Mkumbo said some CA members are not competent enough to handle the given tasks.
He however urged President Jakaya Kikwete to dissolve the CA.
“The problem is that CA members have failed to think outside their parties’ context …. If we want to get the constitution the CA should not be dominated by politicians,” he said.
For her part, Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development minister Prof Anna Tibaijuka refuted claims that Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) has formulated its own constitution draft.
“The constitution making process is all about consensus that is why we are insisting on Ukawa members to join us in the CA on Tuesday,” she said.
A lecturer from Ruaha University, Prof Gaudence Mpangala called upon conflicting parties to find solutions to their differences in order to allow smooth continuation of the ‘Katiba’ writing process.
Prof Mpangala said that the issues that led to the misunderstandings in the CA include President Jakaya Kikwete’s speech, abusive language and claims by the Coalition of People’s Constitution (Ukawa) that members were not discussing the draft that was tabled by the Constitutional Review Commission.
He advised Ukawa to go back to the assembly and push for their agenda while in the CA.
For his part, Minister of State (Policy, Coordination and Parliamentary Affairs), William Lukuvi insisted that CA sessions shall continue even in the absence of Ukawa, saying their non attendance shouldn’t be a reason for Tanzanians not to get the new constitution.
Lukuvi said that the CA will continue providing seminars to members on various national issues to enable them have a broader understanding of issues so as to perfectly participate in the constitution writing process.
“We shall continue with the debate even in their absence … at the end we shall bring to you what we have drafted so that you can vote,” he insisted.
In mid April this year, Ukawa members marched out of the CA debating chamber, saying they couldn’t continue to participate in a process which they described to be ‘a recipe for disaster.”
The members walked out after Prof Lipumba made a presentation in the House, alleging that Lukuvi had misinformed the people when he attended anointment of a Methodist Bishop, Joseph Bundala in Dodoma.
Prof Lipumba claimed that Lukuvi told the congregation that if the three-government system is adopted, the Union government will not afford to pay salaries to army personnel something that could result into a coup.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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