CA: Members boycott House proceedings

Proceesing in the Constituent Assembly were yesterday suspended after some of its members noisily interrupted the presentation by the Constitutional Review Commission chairperson Judge Joseph Warioba.

The move stemmed from their argument that CA Chairman Samuel Sitta would be breaking the laid down standing orders if he allowed the CRC chairperson to present the draft constitution first before President Kikwete’s address.

Members of a lobby  calling themselves the People’s Constitution Coalition (UKAWA) ‘systematically’ prevented the Chairman of Constitution Review Commission(CRC) Judge Joseph Warioba from presenting the second constitution draft.

The drama started when CA chairman invited Judge Warioba to make the presentation, but members of the opposition including those from special groups stood up and noisily interrupted the presentation, saying it was against the CA orders which state that the President should address the assembly before the chairman of the CRC.

Members ignored the CA chairman’s calls for order, forcing him to adjourn the 

From Page assembly. 

Speaking to the media earlier yesterday, Prof Ibrahim Lipumba said the CA chairman has violated standing order no 7 which states that the President was supposed to address the CA first after which other activities would have followed.

The Opposition bloc in CA is formed by Chadema, CUF, NCCR Mageuzi, DP, UDP CHAUSTA, CHAUMA, NRA, NLD and CCK; including all other members appointed from different groups mentioned in Article 22 (I) (c) of the constitution standing orders page 83. 

“We have decided to formulate people’s constitution coalition (UKAWA) whose objective among other things is to ensure the constitution review process in this special CA leads our country to a new constitution of high quality,” said Prof Lipumba.

According to standing order no 7 (1) (g) and (h) the President was supposed to first address the CA, and then other activities would follow. 

But in the CA schedule the President will now address the CA after Judge Warioba’s presentation of the second constitution draft to the assembly.

“The presentation of the second draft of the constitution before the opening speech of the President who is the guest of honour is a violation of the CA regulations. This shows that the president will come in the assembly not as the head of State who was supposed to open the assembly, but as one of the contributors to the constitution review process. Let us respect the stipulated standing orders for the betterment of our constitution, otherwise we will not agree with any proposal during debates,” he stated.

Lipumba urged the CA chairman to follow laid down regulations instead of dealing with his party’s directives.

“There is a fear that the CA chairman is doing what is directed from his leaders instead of concentrating on the regulations, we are not ready for that,” he insisted.

 Prof Lipumba further said that said there was no apparent reason which made President to adjourn addressing CA on Monday, but instead on Friday.

“We all understand this is a very crucial meeting which determine the destiny of our country, this postponement worries us to a great extent,” he said.

He said they wrote a letter to CA chairman expressing their unwillingness to participate in the launching ceremony and discussion.

“We are not ready to attend the address by the President or participate in any seminar that will be carried by local and international mentors or any other matter that will violate CA regulations,” he said. 

Chairperson Sitta explained that earlier the President had been scheduled to address the CA on Wednesday this week, but this was rescheduled to Friday.

“We cannot force a change in the President’s timetable. We will continue with our activities until Friday when President Kikwete will address us,” Sitta told members here yesterday.

He said prior to the address, members of CA will be attending a three-day seminar to understand the various constitutional regulations and history of Zanzibar and Tanzania mainland. The seminar which begins today will be delivered by experts from Tanzania and Kenya.

For his part CA member Tundu Lissu asked the chairman to allow Judge Warioba to address the assembly for a longer time as done during budget session instead of two hours, saying CRC did the work for 20 months. “We have to give him more time”, he stressed.

For his part, another CA member James Mbatia, urged Tanzanians to bear with them: “We want to have a constitution where are these violations coming from? We are not ready to be driven by the ruling party,” he said.

He said the CA chairman must create trust between all members instead of looking to the interests of his party.

Joseph Selasini urged fellow members to put aside their ideologies, political interests, as well as personal interests and work hard for a constitution that will benefit all Tanzanians for many years to come.

Kabwe Zitto said: “If this is how things are, it is better for the President not to come at all.”

Another CA member Tundu Lissu urged Sitta to follow the laid down standing orders.

Prof Costa Mahalu who chaired the technical committee which drew up the orders said: “Change of standing orders depends on one’s interpretation that is all.”

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN