Monday, 24 February 2014

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. 
  

Monday, 17 February 2014

What to expect from Mtikila at the Constituent Assembly!

With the Constitution Constituent Assembly starting it's sessions tomorrow in Dodoma, there is plenty to expect from the members. With the members already known one person who will no doubt be vocal especially on the issue of the Union Government must be Reverend Christopher Mtikila. He has built a reputation for being the kingpin of taking matters to court. He has had and continues to have a history of court battles in Tanzania. He has fought and won the legal battle of an independent candidate at the African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR). An self styled advocate of one government system in Tanzania and an opposer of a union government, Mtikila has sparked numerous inciting and inflammatory remarks. He is also known to be a fierce critic of Mwalimu Nyerere. He opposed him openly. 

The question is what will his selection as a member of the Constituent Assembly (CA) add? Do we need a dissenting voice in the Assembly? Do we need a fiery character to voice out concerns that remain fundamental in the constitution? In a seminar conducted for the members of the Assembly last week, Mtikila made very uncouth and inappropriate remarks which didn't augur well with a selection of the members. Why did the President select him? He says the constitution process is not constitutional yet he is a member of the CA now. How will that work out? These questions will surely be answered after the 70 stipulated days of the CA.

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)

Monday, 10 February 2014

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.      

Chadema washeherekea kwa mbwembwe Arusha!

Waendesha bodaboda
Chadema washeherekea ushindi Arusha
Wafuasi wa Chadema wakicheza na kufurahia mjini Arusha baada ya ushindi wa diwani wa kata ya Sombetini.
 Mbwembwe za wafuasi wa Chadema.


 Mbunge wa Arusha mjini akiwapungia wafuasi wa Chadema walifurika licha ya mvua kubwa.



Maandamano ya waendesha pikipiki almaarufu kama bodaboda (Toyo) wakiongozana katika msafara wa ushindi karibu na hoteli ya Palace jijini
Arusha.

Friday, 7 February 2014

Katiba Watch: Understanding the Constituent Assembly

President Jakaya Kikwete will release the names of the members to the Constituent Assembly today. The sittings are expected to begin in 18 February 2014 in Dodoma.  The Constitution Review Act gives the President power to appoint 201 members of the Constituent Assembly drawn from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), faith-based organisations and all registered political parties. Others include institutions of higher learning, groups of people with special needs, workers’ associations, associations representing farmers, associations representing pastoralists and any other group of persons having common interest. Further to these, it is also be made up of all members of the National Assembly of Tanzania (358) and all members of the House of Representatives of Zanzibar (76) bringing a total 635 members.
 
Pursuant to the Constitution Review Act, Part V on the Convening of a Constituent Assembly, Article 22(3) the President shall publish the names of the members of the Constituent Assembly in the proclamation published in the gazette. Upon the first convening of the Assembly, a chairman and vice-chairman will be elected through a secret ballot by the members. Further to the spirit of the Union, if the chairman is from Mainland Tanzania, the vice shall come from Tanzania Zanzibar. The winner is determined by a simple majority. Standing Orders shall forthwith be established and adopted before members subscribing to an oath or affirmation.
 
Article 25 (1) in part states that the Constituent Assembly shall have and exercise powers to make provisions for the new constitution of Tanzania. It has been rumored that the ruling party CCM will come with an alternative draft constitution.Article 25 (2) states succinctly that the powers of the Constituent Assembly to make provisions for the proposed Constitution shall be be exercised by a Draft Constitution tabled by the Chairman of the Commission and passed by the Constituent Assembly.
 
This indeed, is a crucial step in the constitutional process in Tanzania. Much has been said about the powers bestowed by the president to appoint the members of the assembly, but it is time to accept and move on with the process. With a proposed lifespan of 70 working days, the Assembly ought to utilize this period effectively and efficiently.

Thursday, 6 February 2014

In this I support Lowassa

The election mood is heating up in Tanzania. Candidates and political parties are slowly but steadily shaping up and readying themselves for 2015 elections. The ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) is doing all sorts of political readjustments like celebrating 37 years of its existence just to sell itself to the people. The main opposition party Chama cha Demokrasia

na Maendeleo (Chadema) is grappling with in-party wrangling and recently it has embarked on a meet-the-people nationwide tour dubbed as Operation Movement for Change (M4C) - Pamoja Daima. Clearly, these two political outfits are shaping up in readiness for the elections. Despite the outward people centric portrayal of these two main parties, there exists internal fault lines. Whereas Chadema is trying to 'discipline' party dissidents and the so-called 'betrayers', CCM is grappling with internal rivalries born out of the quest for the top seat for some of its members. There seems to be similarities and parallelism between these two parties at the moment. Previously, the opposition took swipe at the ruling party blaming it for the endemic, cataclysmic and virulent corruption and lack of party transparency. Tides are shifting, with Chadema being accused of similar practices. the President, speaking at the 37th anniversary of CCM in Mbeya took a hyperbolic swipe at Chadema saying "CCM remains strong, whereas the other parties (Chadema) seem not to find their feet at the moment:". Chadema is now trying to save face by carrying out nationwide tours.

CCM greatest concern has been the former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa who has silently declared his desire for the presidency come 2015. In a new year's party hosted at his home constituency, Mr. Lowassa said that he has embarked on a "dream to see a Tanzania with proper sanitation, good education and equality." This statement, though passive, was interpreted to mean he was declaring his candidacy for the top post in Tanzania. CCM luminaries have come out strong and condemned Lowassa for this saying that it is too early to declare his intention for the top job. Former Prime Minister and veteran politician John Malecela has strongly criticized Lowassa for this. Others have included, CCM Secretary Phillip Mangula and the likes of Nape Nnauye the vibrant Secretary in charge of Politics and Ideology. The party is summoning a mini-convention in either Dodoma or Dar es Salaam which will be attended by former Tanzania Presidents Benjamin Mkapa and Ali Hassan Mwinyi and former Zanzibar President Amani Karume to discuss the brewing discomfort brought about by Lowassa's possible candidacy.

I am dismayed at the level of criticism leveled on Lowassa who is imbuing his democratic right to put his name forward for possible selection for the top job. It is quite astonishing and perplexing to say the least, why his candidacy is causing jitters among members of his party. We learn from comparative politics that all politics is local. Take the rise to prominence of Barack Obama. It was during the 2004 National Democratic Convention that he gave the keynote address which made him a national star and set stage for his subsequent election in 2008 as the first Black  American President in US. Political strategists will tell you that his election campaign began that night in Boston, Massachusetts.

Sun Tzu, the renowned Chinese military general and strategist says that "The art of war is of vital importance to the State" and in this case the statesman or politician. Mr Lowassa, may have his own share of political baggage that led to his resignation as Prime Minister but his ambition to lead should not be rubbished. Drawing from Sun Tzu, the commander needs to stand for the virtues of wisdom, sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness. This is summed up in the first tactic of laying out the plans. Mr. Lowassa seems to have already laid out his plans. He is building a vibrant network of professionals, youth, veteran politicians, businessmen and the church which is his foundation. This seems not to go well with a crossection of CCM bigwigs who in my opinion feel threatened.

The year 2014, from the onset seems its going to be a crucial political year for Tanzania. With the constitution process still on and the forth coming election, it promises to be a bumper year, and one with a lot of political and economic significance. I am pleased that political parties are now avenues of political contests which in turn will be vital for nationwide pluralism as is been envisioned by the proposed new constitution. This is what we need in Tanzania anyway. Political pluralism, in-party democracy and government transparency will definitely steer economic development and growth.

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