HAKIARDHI views on land in new constitution

BY AISIA RWEYEMAMU

As the process of collecting public views for a new national Constitution continues the Civil Society Foundation (CSF) has advocated for change of land ownership by the Head of State to individual ownership by Tanzanians in freehold arrangement.

A Non Governmental Organisation Land Officer dealing with land matters, HAKIARDHI, Valentini Ngorisa said under the present Constitution society is victim of its own land as it is barred from land ownership perpetually.

Ngorisa was speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday during a forum that discussed the role of Civil Society in the preparation of a new Constitution.

He said the constitution should clearly indicate equality of land possession to avoid existing contradictions in the land sector. In the current Constitution an individual owns a piece of land for economic reasons.

As outlined in the Constitution, the Land Act of 1999 provides for limited period of land occupation through leases of 33 years, 66 years and 99 years.

Yusuph Gunje, another forum participant, said if land ownership comes under the community there would no more conflicts as development of land would depend on the decision of the society Gunje said the government should remain as land supervisor.

For his part Edward Mponda from Dodoma proposed the new Constitution to stipulate the formation of an independent body for determining the value of land.

Mponda proposed further that the country should form an independent land commission to monitor the distribution of land to the indigenous people.

He said the new Constitution should identify units of land that someone can possess to avoid the accumulation of land by one person.

However, CSF urged that land distribution to foreigners must have time limit which should not exceed 10 years.

A 30-people constitutional review Commission under the Chairmanship of retired Judge Joseph Warioba is crisscrossing Tanzania to collect views and opinions on what should go into the new Constitution aimed at improving democratic process and lasting peace in the country.

Meanwhile, CRC Warioba said institutions and political parties should desist from directing citizens what to say during the ongoing opinions collecting meetings.

“There is no need of some people to influence others in giving out opinions. Political parties and all institutions should know this. We will give all people and special groups enough space.”

He said citizens’ understanding of constitution is high and the Commission expects to get the right constitution. As collection of views goes into high gear, there are reports of women being sidelined in public forums.

Warioba said that poor participation of women was among critical challenges constraining the process of gathering citizens’ views.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN (17/11/2012): http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=48096