Bill sails easily after opposition walkout

Dodoma. The boycott by the official opposition in the Parliament yesterday simplified the work of the government as CCM Members of Parliament passed the Constitution Review (Amendment) Act, 2013 smoothly.

The opposition parties including Chadema, the Civic United Front (CUF) and NCCR-Mageuzi had vehemently demanded the government to withdraw the Bill until views from Zanzibar were collected.

Earlier, after the question and answer session, opposition legislators Freeman Mbowe (Chadema), Habib Mohamed Mnyaa (CUF), John Mnyika (Chadema), Moses Machali (NCCR Mageuzi), Tundu Lissu (Chadema) and Felix Mkosamali (NCCR Mageuzi) requested the Speaker’s guide line, but the chairperson, Ms Jenister Mhagama, said she would listen to them at the end of the session, something that prompted the opposition to walk-out from the Bunge chamber.

One of the key areas of contention was a proposal under Article 22 Section (2) (a) regarding the powers of the President to appoint 166 members of the Constituent Assembly.

On Thursday, drawing experience from the appointment of members of the Constitution Review Commission (CRC), Mr Lissu said the President should not be left to appoint 166 of the Constituent Assembly members.

According to the opposition Camp Chief Whip, Mr Tundu Lissu, the President’s mandate to appoint members from institutions was not democratic.

As for Section 23, the House agreed to the proposed 20 day extension on top of the 70 days allocated for the meeting of the Constituent Assembly.

Unlike last week, the Attorney General, Judge Fredrick Werema, had a very simple task as the opposition lawmakers were absent.

The speech by the Opposition Camp Chief Whip, Mr Lissu, on the Constitution Review Amendment Bill 2013, was a thorn in the government flesh that caused CCM MPs to spend hours discussing him instead of dwelling on the contents of the Bill.

During Thursday’s evening session, the MPs, from CCM spent all the time attacking their opposition counterparts in an apparent move to try and neutralise the damage left by the side’s arguments.

According to a source, some ministers had to hold a meeting later at night trying to find evidence to defend the government stand.“Lissu is a liar and hypocrite who should no longer be trusted by Tanzanians,” a CCM MP shouted during the evening session.

MP Chombo said, “I want to warn my fellow Zanzibaris to stay away from Mr Lissu; he is the same…he has not changed, he never loves us. If you see your enemy suddenly in love with you, remember that he has a hidden agenda.”

Mr Lissu had said three names were to be proposed to the President from each special group as identified by the law for inclusion in the CRC.

However, the President did not appoint members to represent the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), the Christian Council of Tanzania (CCT) and the National Muslim Council of Tanzania (Bakwata).

However, the minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office -- Policy and Parliamentary Coordination, Mr William Lukuvi, strongly denied the allegations saying there is evidence of the President’s letter containing the recommendation names from the institutions mentioned.

According to him, the President appointed among three names suggested by the institutions: Ms Maria Kashonda representing TEC, Ms Jesca Mkuchu representing CCT and Ms Mwantumu Malale represnting Bakwata.