Views on what should be included in new Katiba Bill
President Jakaya Kikwete in a group photo with leaders of opposition parties and senior officers of his government at the State House in Dar es Salaam a fortnight ago. The Head of State agreed with the leaders to incorporate their views on the new Constitution Review Bill to be drawn by the government soon.
PHOTO I FILE
What you need to know:
President Jakaya Kikwete’s intervention to broker the deal with the opposition, which had threatened to protest against the process of writing the country’s new Katiba, has already been commended by various commentators. Today, we bring you the views of the commoners
Irene Mmari, DSM
My proposals would be that members of the Constituent Assembly should not comprise a majority MPs. The organ should not be inclined to any party politically speaking because what the country needs is a document that unites the entire country.
T. Edward, Dodoma
The amendments should remove excessive powers allow the president to solely determine who sits in the Constituent Assembly.
While it is not bad for the head of state to ensure a smooth rolling of the process, if he is allowed to determine who should be in the assembly, it’s likely that he could lean on the side that he comes from, since he is the national chairman of CCM.
Fatuma Minja, DSM
I would like to hear that more seats are reserved for the vulnerable groups so that whatever is approved by the Constituent Assembly does not favour certain interests at the expense of those that have suffered without a voice for the last 50 years. Why do the MPs want to have an upper hand in the outcome of this process?
Kondo Juma, Kunduchi DSM
I would only suggest that all the parties involved in the remaining part of the review agree mutually in everything that they want included in the new Law. Consensus building is important for a Constitution to be stable.
I would not expect wrangles now that the parties met and have been allowed to present preferred amendments which should be considered by the Parliament.
Joshua Temu, Moshi
There should be free participation of civil society and other community groups without the interference from the Parliament or the Executive. People who should be allowed to represent us there must be of high integrity. I doubt whether anyone is looking at the need to vet those clamouring to be members. I also propose that the Judge Warioba team remain in office until after the referendum.
