New Katiba role in war on narcotics

The war on drugs is hitting us all and we have to embrace it. Whatever has been happening in the public, the said war should help us understand where we, as a nation, stand.

The ongoing debate and discussion is important. It tells us the state of our Tanzanian society. Are we really united? Are the diverse voices on drug crackdown efforts something to celebrate? Are the voices we continue to hear make up the great chorus of our nation, or are these nothing else than wake up calls that we are no longer confident and steadfast in our shared values and common purpose? The war on drugs in Tanzania begun quite some time ago. But a few weeks ago, it was rejuvenated and became livelier than ever before.

Mr Makonda took a very bold initiative, whether the approach was good or not, in my view it has helped to kick start drug crackdown journey. In fact it is now spreading to Arusha, Mwanza, Manyara, Lindi and Iringa just to mention a few.

The journey will not come to an end soon, in fact it is gaining momentum. We know that Wananchi have heard harmful, detrimental and destructive words from their fellow citizens. Other peoples’ status and integrity have been damaged. Some words have gone to the extreme to becoming poisonous if not baleful to our community.

Obviously, there is still much to come. We shall need a breath of fresh air on how to clean up our act and win the drug war. There were also some positive points though. We heard leaders speaking and acting with strict political neutrality. Some exercised powers on the advice of relevant people responsible for the war. We also heard Members of Parliament clearly holding the government to account. Their tone of speech clearly sounded that they were shifting their focus on duties of representing and furthering the interests of their constituencies, to the interests of the country. Indeed they moved from representing individual constituents to taking up the national problems and grievances if not agenda on drugs.

As a nation we need to come together in the spirit of self-determination in order to establish the principles of our law and governance. Ours should not only be to disrupt and dismantle organizations and people involved in illicit drug trafficking, but rather to set out to hold moral lenses.

This is possible only if a shear need for a new constitution shall be viewed as critical for moral footing on drugs. A new constitution which we hope shall be packed with valuable instructions, information and warnings, needs to be found. It is unfortunate that the journey towards the new constitution has been halted for the unforeseeable future.

Yes, with a new constitution one shall hope that citizens will be challenged to create a united resolve, one which will grow ever-stronger under the enlightened auspices of the said new constitution to address many issues including united efforts to tackle drug problems.

It was sad to discover that the current public discussion suggest that a new constitution composed of the laws and rules that create the institutions of the state, regulate the relationships between those institutions, or regulate the relationship between the state and the individual is very much needed. If the current constitution suffices, then the chaos we saw when the leadership took action on drugs is suggesting that the constitution is inadequate. This is the possibility because it also happens in big democracies leading to the formation of Commissions for Democracy and the like, which keeps under review the operation of the Constitution.

As the war is waged, there is every indication that it is the judiciary which should play a major part and this reality calls for it to be extraordinary independent and impartial and ministers must uphold the principle of judicial independence.

Again the new constitution with an emphasis on the call for the judiciary to uphold the rule of law and the rights and maintain the administration of civil and criminal justice which is needed.

Dr Alfred Sebahene is a lecturer at St. John’s University of Tanzania