In the next financial year referendum would be one of the top priorities of the Constitutional and Legal Affairs ministry.
Minister Harrison Mwakyembe said the government will be proceeding with the referendum and people will be voting on the Proposed Constitution likely before July 2017 whether to accept or reject the controversial document passed by the Constituent Assembly (CA).
A section of the society will be disappointed with this as they had made calls to President John Magufuli to set aside the Proposed Constitution for a fresh process.
Meanwhile, the former Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) chairman Joseph Warioba said the president fight against corruption would get boost if his commission’s Draft Constitution is to be considered.
While presenting the ministry’s 2016-17 budget Mwakyembe had given no hint the government would go back on the process.
He added the ministry is in talks with the Prime Minister’s Office, the National Electoral Commission (NEC) and Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) too for the preparations of referendum.
He mentioned further Magufuli has earlier assured the Parliament during his maiden speece the government would address on the matter to the earliest.
Mwakyembe also requested the Parliament to endorse more funds for the ministry and the expenses breakup are like Sh22 billion for salaries, Sh2.7 billion for projects and the rest for other expenses.
The earlier failed referendum date announced by the government was 3 April 2015.
On 8 October 2014 the Proposed Constitutional was presented to the then President Jakaya Kikwete and then Zanzibar President Ali Mohammed Shein.
