Constitutional Review Bill passed

National Assembly passed the Constitutional Review (amendment number 2) Bill that was tabled by the Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs, Mr Mathias Chikawe incorporating demands made by opposition to increase the number of members of the Constituent Assembly to be appointed by the President from 166 to 201.

The Bill outlined the institutions where the 201 members would be drawn from. The Bill presented under a certificate of urgency was the result of consensus reached after President Jakaya Kikwete met with leaders of the opposition to debate changes needed in the principal act.

According to the Bill, the 201 members will be drawn from NGOs (20), Faith Based Organisations (20), fully registered political parties (42), higher learning institutions (20), people with special needs (20), trade unions (19), associations of livestock keepers (10), fisheries association (10), agricultural associations (20) and 20 others from any other groups of people.

This brings the total number of members to 639. The Bill also reflects the demands made by opposition on the modalities of appointment of the 201 members.

The groups listed will now have to send names of nominees to the president of not less than six and not more than nine names for consideration.

Details of each nominee should include age, gender, experience, qualifications and place of abode. According to the new Bill, gender balance of nominees will be taken seriously.

The Bill has deleted sections 31 to 36 of the principal act which provided for measures to be taken for conducting the referendum.

According to Minister Chikawe, the requirements of the cancelled sections would be accommodated in the Referendum Bill, which will be tabled in the Parliament meeting next month. The Bill has cancelled a section which provided for adherence to simple majority victory when voting for the Draft Constitution.

The Bill indicates that the Clerk of the National Assembly and that of the Zanzibar House of Representatives, will cooperate in the process to elect a chairman of the Constituent Assembly.

Prior to passing the said Bill, the House was engaged in a heated debate as MPs from the opposition mostly Chadema members demanded that government allows the Constitution Assembly to constitute members of the Constitution Review Commission (CRC). Legislators, John Mnyika and Tundu Lisu both requested the House to reject the proposal that demanded dissolution of the CRC until the Constitution review process is completed.

Mr Lisu claimed that a number of CCM lawmakers are demanding the dissolution of the Commission under pretext that in the first draft it issued a number of things including threetier government which was not of interest.

However, Minister Chikawe said that it was earlier agre Chenge (Bariadi East), Mwigulu Nchemba (Iramba West) and Esther Bulaya (Special Seats). Ultimately it was agreed that CRC upon completing its assignment it should be dissolved.

http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/24529-constitutional-review-bill-passed