Traditional livestock keepers have proposed names of nine representatives who are to contribute on their behalf, to the next February’s constitutional parliament in Dodoma.
Releasing a joint statement after their week-long meeting here, delegates from over 30 associations representing pastoralists’ groups countrywide, will be submitting the names, as well as official minutes of their convergence to the Constitution Review Commission.
Traditional livestock keepers from all over the country who gathered in Arusha praised President Jakaya Kikwete’s directive to have nomadic pastoralists as well as other indigenous groups fully represented during the forthcoming constitutional parliamentary in Dodoma.
“Through our various traditional livestock keepers associations, groups and dedicated organizations we want to thank the President for seeing the importance of previously ignored groups to have a say in the proposed new constitution,” stated the groups in their joint statement.
The pastoralists added that already their respective associations have completed the hard task of educating members on the issues related to the new governing document, through a number of constitution review meetings held at grassroots level.
The traditional livestock keepers have, however, expressed concern that there were some people, or groups, if not parties, that seem to be out to torpedo President Kikwete’s initiative to have their groups represented in the Katiba Parliament next February.
They called for the Head of State to seriously look into the matter. Speaking through their associations, the pastoralists said while the President through his recent directive wanted all marginalized and special groups’ voices heard and be represented, there were some people who are out to try and stifle their voices.
“The President had clearly urged our people and other marginalized groups to propose the names of candidates for the Katiba discussions something which we have been doing through a number of democratic meetings and we are soon going to submit them to the commission but are still worried that there are some underground motives aiming at ensuring that the President, as well as our efforts fail,” lamented the pastoralists in the statement.
The joint statement was signed by the 31 associations gathering here under the Katiba Initiative (KAI) platform, the organizations include Ujamaa-CRT, PINGOs Forum, MWEDO, JAWAWAVI, ESUPAT, KINNAPA and PALITA.
Others are; TNRF, NYDA, MPDO, IPI, SWEAT, TANIPE, TAPHGO, ALAPA, TPCF, MARIESHIK, UWAMA, TACODEF, KIDUPO, OSEREMI, Chama Cha Wafugaji Kanda ya Mashariki, Chama Cha Wafugaji Kanda ya Kusini, PWC, PSDO, CORDS, PALISEP, NGONET and PINGOs-Forum.
By MARC NKWAME, Tanzania Daily News
