Sitta names members of consultation team

Dar es Salaam. The chairman of the Constituent Assembly (CA), Mr Samuel Sitta, has formed a 30-member consultations committee, which, among other things, aims at ending the standoff facing the constitution writing process.

But the move could face a huddle even before it holds its first meeting with one of the main antagonists immediately declaring that they did not recognise the move.

According to an advertisement posted yesterday in the media by CA clerk Yahya Khamis, the role of the committee will be to evaluate CA work so far as well as chat the way forward in executing the major objective of the Assembly.

“After consulting CA vice chairperson Ms Samia Hassan Suluhu and by using CA standing order number 54(4) and (5) the CA chairman has formed a 30-member reconciliation committee,” the notice reads in part.

According to the notice, the committee will hold its meeting on July 24 and 25 at the National Assembly’s offices in Dar es Salaam.

But Chadema secretary general Dr Wilbrod Slaa, whose party members are among those who have boycotted the CA, yesterday hinted that the members would not attend the meeting planned by Mr Sitta.

According to Dr Slaa, Mr Sitta formed the committee from his powers as CA chairman, and Ukawa has boycotted to participate in anything that is officially CA controlled.

“At the time our members walked out we said every means within the CA reach had failed to guarantee our concerns, and now he forms a committee which is composed of members of the CA who are on record to be very bitter at us, there is nothing to talk to them about,” he said.

He said that they will only go back to the CA when they are guaranteed that the meetings will be based on the Second Draft Constitution and data presented by the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) and not any other agenda, something which is yet to be achieved.

The mixed development came in just a few days after President Jakaya Kikwete said that he was optimistic talks between the registrar of Political Parties and major political parties will unlock the stalemate on the Constitution writing process.

According to the advertisement, the Sitta committee contains eight members from the Coalition of Defenders of Wananchi Constitution (Ukawa) who, in April, boycotted the CA meetings.

They include Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe and his CUF and NCCR counterparts Prof Ibrahimu Lipumba and Mr James Mbatia respectively.

Also in the list are outspoken Singida East MP, Mr Tundu Lissu, Ms Magdalena Sakaya, Ms Suzan Lyimo and Mr Khalifa Suleiman Khalifa and Zanzibar minister for Constitutional and Legal Affairs Mr Abubakar Khamis Bakari.

However, Dr Slaa yesterday told journalists that they have decided through Ukawa that their members would not take part in the committee until their demands are met outside the CA circles.

Other members of the Sitta committee include Mr Pandu Ameir Kificho, Prof Costa Ricky Mahalu, Mr Peter Kuga Mziray, Mr Vuai Ali Vuai, Bishop Donald Mtetemela, Sheikh Thabit Jongo, Mr Job Ndugai and Mr Amon Mpanju.

Also in the list are Dr Francis Michael, Ms Anna Abdallah, Ms Kidawa Hamid Salehe, Mr Shamsi Nahodha, Dr Asha-Rose Migiro, Attorney General Judge Fredrick Werema and his Zanzibar counterpart Mr Othman Masoud Othman as well as Sheikh Himid Jongo.

The list also includes Ms Anne Kilango Malecela, Ms Mary Chatanda, Prof Mark Mwandosya and Mr Stephen Wassira. Early in April Ukawa members boycotted the CA in a bid to press for the people’s views as contained in the Second Draft Constitution to be honoured and in protest of abusive language from their CCM counterparts.

Speaking in Mbeya on Sunday during celebrations to mark 75 years of the Tanzania Assemblies of God (TAG), President Kikwete said he was pleased with the progress made so far in he talks between Mr Francis Mutungi and senior party officials.

The Head of State said talks were the only way opposition parties would end their boycott of the CA before it resumes in Dodoma on August 5, this year.