The Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) has started analysing views aired at recently concluded constitution forums and preparation of a second draft of the basic law, its Chairman Judge (Rtd) Joseph Warioba said.
Judge Joseph Warioba
Together with the revised draft constitution, Judge Warioba said the CRC would also prepare a report of the process which it will present to President Jakaya Kikwete and President Dr Ali Mohammed Shein of Zanzibar.
Mr Warioba, who has held various high-ranking positions in the government, however blasted political parties for “being selfish” in the process of rewriting the basic law by advancing what they think it is best for them.
Some parties went as far as coaching their members on what to contribute during the forums rather than letting the members independently speak their minds.
Others conducted parallel meetings with those of the forums and used the gatherings to hurl insults at some members of CRC rather than discussing the main agenda which was the draft constitution unveiled by CRC in June, this year.
“Through our guidelines, we will stick to noteworthy issues that were raised by the forums countrywide and not otherwise,” Judge Warioba said at a media briefing in Dar es Salaam. Adding; “The new constitution should unite Tanzanians further and not bring divisions among them. We must have a constitution that will embrace national harmony.”
Though he did not specify as to when the task would be concluded, Judge Warioba said his commission will work within the time as stipulated in the legislation guiding the process to re-write the constitution.
In another development, the senior citizen refuted claims circulating in some circles of the public that some CRC members had threatened to resign if the President assented the Constitutional Review (Amendments) Act of 2013.
“It is true though that some members of the CRC have expressed concern on meddling by political parties in the process,” the CRC Chair explained. During the just ended constitution forums, Mr Warioba said his commission faced many challenges which were caused by political parties.
There were district forums which were directly coordinated by the CRC as well as forums formed by different organizations with common interests such as the disabled, business people, women and political parties among others.
The district forums held meetings between July 12 and September 2 while the others did so between June and August, this year. The CRC was then split in 14 groups with each comprising between two to three members to oversee the district forums.
The groups oversaw 179 meetings which were attended by 19,337 members countrywide. Judge Warioba went on to explain that out of the 179 meetings, 166 were held in Tanzania Mainland and remaining 13 in Zanzibar.
By ALVAR MWAKYUSA, Tanzania Daily News
