#Katiba Watch: Chenge stealing the show!

The Chairman of the drafting Committee, former Attorney General Andrew Chenge has been stealing the Katiba show. On 24 September, he unveiled a constitution draft that is now termed as the Dodoma Draft or what many are now referring to as the CCM draft. Mr. Chenge was at one time accused of massive corruption. He made further headlines when he retorted by saying the money he was accused of stealing was mere 'vijisenti'. He was later re-branded as 'Mzee wa Vijisenti'. He later resigned from his post as Infrastructure Minister and kept a low profile.

When the Constituent Assembly was set up in February this year, Chenge's name was mentioned for the position of the Chairman of the CA. The position however went to Mr. Samuel Sitta, who according to political commentators was a deliberate ploy to position himself for the post of the presidency come next year. Mr. Chenge, however, took up the post as Chairman of the Drafting Committee in the CA. Mr. Chenge, who many claim has a sharp legal mind has repositioned and re-branded his image. Mr. Chenge read with admirable articulation the proposed new constitution draft. The draft is now even known in some quarters as the Chenge Draft. Maybe he has more up his sleeves.   

Warioba awasilisha Rasimu Bungeni: Live Tweets

Leo, Mheshimiwa Jaji Warioba awasilisha rasimu ya pili mbele ya Bunge la Katiba. Follow my tweets in English and Swahili here

Suala la Muungano limepamba moto Bungeni.

Ndani ya Bunge la Katiba: Mbowe na Marafiki wa Tanganyika

Ni siku chache tangu Bunge la Katiba lianze kazi yake mjini Dodoma. Mbali na uteuzi wa Mwenyekiti wa muda Pandu Ameir Kificho, mjadala umekuwa wa posho za wajumbe hawa. Ni aibu kubwa kwa taifa letu kuona kwamba mjadala anzilishi wa Bunge la Katiba sio wa hoja bali ya posho za wajumbe. Nimeamua makusudi kukwepa mjadala huu na hata kuchangia kwa upana. Sio jambo la kupoteza muda wako.

Nimependezwa na uledi na ustadi makini na hatua ya Mwenyekiti wa Chadema na Kiongozi wa Kambi ya Upinzani Bungeni Mh. Freeman Mbowe kuanzisha kundi la marafiki wa Tanganyika. Waingereza wanaiita "caucus". Ni hatua madhubuti ambayo kulingana na Mh. Mbowe, itajumuisha aina mbali mbali ya makundi ndani ya Bunge hilo. Mtazamo huu chanya ni muhimu katika kuteka hoja mbali mbali ambazo zinahusu upana wa maslahi na sio ufinyu wa maslahi ya kichama, kikanda, ama hata ya kidini. Kwa mujibu wa Mbowe, kundi hili halitakuwa na chembe ya itikadi ya chama cha siasa, bali litaundwa na 'marafiki wa Tanganyika'.Licha ya mtazamo wa wazi wa Chama cha Mapinduzi kudai Mfumo wa Serikali mbili ndani ya Muungano, Mbowe anaohisi sio mtazamo wa WanaCCM wote. Misingi bora ya demokrasia katika demokrasia pevu na zilizostawi, mfumo huu wa kuleta makundi "Lobbying and Caucusing" kwa kimombo, ndio njia muafka wa kujenga maridhiano (building consensus) hata kama kuna mitazamo tofauti (diverging opinions). Ni kwa msingi huu Mbowe amependekeza uundwaji wa vikundi vya sampuli hii. 

Rai yangu kwa wajumbe wa Bunge la Katiba kujenga maridhiano kupitia makundi ya kirafiki ambayo itahusisha itikadi mbali mbali na kuleta umoja wa kitaifa. Historia inatufundisha kwamba michakato ya Katiba inaweza kuigawanya nchi kama haitaendeshwa kwa ufasaha ila inaweza kutumika kama nyenzo kuu ya kuleta watu pamoja katika maazimio ya pamoja (common aspirations) ambayo ni nguzo kuu ya katiba yoyote duniani. 

  

Masuala matano magumu kuhusu rasimu ya Katiba

Kwa hisani ya Mtanzania

Profesa maarafu Tanzania na msomi mtajika Issa Shivji ametaja masuala matano magumu ya rasimu ya Katiba. Huku Bunge la Katiba likitarajiwa kuanza shughuli yake kesho Dodoma, Prof Shivji aliwasilisha masuala yafuatayo;

1. Malengo muhimu na Maadili na Miiko ya Uongozi ( Special Aspirations and Integrity and Principles of Leadership)

2. Shughuli za Serikali ya Muungano (Activities of the Union Government)

3. Mapato ya Serikali ya Muungano (Revenue of the Union Government)

4. Kuhusu Polisi (Concerning Police)

5. Masharti ya Mpito (Transitional Procedures)

Media role in the Constitution Process in Tanzania

The fourth estate, as the media has come to be known is very important in any civilized democracy. The media acts as an integral nexus between governance and the people and between policy and the people. The people need the media and the media needs the people. It is a unique symbiotic relationship which has existed for many years. Mature democracies world over are driven by vibrant media. The media not only informs but has been used as an advocate for change and has been used as a tool for creating awareness among people. The media has been used to question and criticize the government and shape public opinion on fundamental aspects that are pertinent to society. 

Tanzania newspapers reporting

the country at a crucial constitution making stage, the media should rise above partisan interest and report objectively on the goings on in the Constituent Assembly which start this month. Tanzania newspapers in the recent past have failed to draw the line between mainstream journalism and tabloid business (udaku). Many of them have failed to position themselves as national newspapers despite them claiming this status. Some newspapers are openly known to be party based and thus biased with regard to the party interests. What struck me is when the list of the Constituent Assembly members was released by the President. A number of newspapers were quick to praise the appointments while others trashed saying the president got the appointments wrong.

The media should rise above the whims and caprices and be a neutral arbiter in the constitution process. more than ever, a balanced and objective media will help to drive the agenda based on consultative engagements of the country's citizenry. The media should create a platform for constructive engagements through objective reporting. Inflammatory and alarming statements should be avoided and if they really need to be published let them be euphemistically framed.