Special seats legislators: Stakeholders call for term limits

Dar es Salaam. As Tanzania prepares for the 2025 general election, calls for a term limit for members of parliament (MPs) holding special seats have intensified.

The proposal suggests capping their service to two five-year terms, providing an opportunity for these MPs to transition to constituency seats.

This suggestion has sparked significant debate across political, legal, and social circles, with advocates arguing that term limits would encourage fresh leadership, reduce corruption, and strengthen democracy.

The issue of term limits has also been raised in the context of constitutional reforms.

The Draft Constitution, proposed by Justice Joseph Warioba, suggested three parliamentary terms to allow new individuals to serve the public, preventing power from becoming entrenched in the hands of a few.

Additionally, the Warioba Commission recommended the abolition of special seats, proposing instead five presidential appointee positions for the representation of people with disabilities.

Advocates for term limits

Former Minister of Finance, Ms Zakia Meghji, has been a vocal supporter of the term limit proposal for special seat MPs.

Ms Meghji, who has held various leadership roles, including as Minister for Health and Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, recently called for a two-term limit for MPs holding special seats, similar to the presidency.

Speaking at a women’s leadership conference in Dar es Salaam, the veteran politician emphasised that while the inclusion of women in leadership roles had improved over the years, it was crucial to address the stagnation in special seat positions.

"These seats were initially intended to give women leadership experience, but some individuals have held them for up to 20 years. This is not conducive to the development of a new generation of female leaders,” she said.

She suggested that limiting the terms of special seat MPs would allow others, especially younger women, to step into leadership roles.

Ms Meghji also questioned why the presidency, which is capped at two terms, could have such limits while MPs in special seats could remain indefinitely.

“Term limits are feasible if there is the political will,” said the politician, stressing the need for a broader societal focus on educating girls to nurture future leaders.

Political leaders weigh in       

Chadema Vice Chairman (Mainland) Tundu Lissu has echoed, Ms Meghji’s call for term limits.

Mr Lissu, who has long advocated for reforms to prevent individuals from becoming permanent political figures, told the press last week that special seats, intended to give women an entry point into leadership, were now often used by the same individuals every election.

“After serving a single term, some MPs use significant campaign funds to run for re-election, making it difficult for new voices to emerge. Term limits are essential to allow for political diversity and fresh perspectives," argued Mr Lissu.

Mr Lissu has been pushing for term limits within Chadema since 2015 and believes such reforms are necessary to ensure political participation is accessible to a broader range of people.

"We need to implement term limits to prevent a situation where certain individuals believe they own these positions,” he added.

He emphasised that political parties, including Chadema, must implement internal leadership transitions to avoid the concentration of power.

“If I become the party chairman, I will ensure that a leadership transition policy is in place, limiting the tenure of leaders to ensure political sustainability,” he explained.

Support from special seats MPs

Some current special seats MPs have also shown support for the term limits proposal.

Chadema Special Seats MP, Ms Nusrat Hanje, argued that term limits should be set not only for special seats but for constituency MPs as well.

She suggested a cap of 15 to 20 years of service for MPs, noting that African politics often becomes a power game where those in power build extensive networks and accumulate economic influence over time.

“There’s a big difference between someone contesting for the first time and someone running for the fourth or fifth time. The initial enthusiasm of voters’ changes as a person becomes more established,” Hanje said.

She pointed out that the original goal of special seats was to empower women and build their leadership capacity, but that the prolonged tenure of certain individuals has undermined this objective.

"No one should hold a special seat for more than 10 years. If the goal is to empower someone, they should eventually step aside to allow others to take over,” she argued.

Ms Hanje also suggested that if term limits are not feasible, it would be better to abolish special seats altogether and create new constituencies or adjust existing ones to accommodate both male and female representatives equally.

Mixed opinions from MPs            

Some MPs, however, are hesitant to endorse the idea of term limits.

A CCM Special Seats MP in Chakechake, Pemba, Zanzibar, Ms Zulfa Mmaka Omar, expressed uncertainty about the proposal, particularly because of her position as a beneficiary of the system.

“If I say anything, it could be seen as self-serving. Let’s allow the party to decide what is best. If they decide it’s not working, they should remove it; if it’s beneficial, then it will remain,” stated Ms Omar.

A CCM councillor for Kishili Ward in Mwanza, Ms Magreth Kuhanwa, supported the idea of term limits, noting that prolonged tenures could lead to stagnation.

"Everything that has a beginning must have an end. Even someone who starts crawling eventually starts walking. After 15 years, others should take over,” said Ms Kuhanwa.

She likened political office to retirement in other professions, where individuals step down after a certain age or period of service.

"Even in other professions, when people reach 60 years old, they retire. It’s painful but necessary. The presidency also has a term limit; why not parliament?" questioned Ms Kuhanwa.

Legal and scholarly perspectives

The CCM women wing chairperson, Mary Chatanda, acknowledged that her party had established procedures for selecting special seats MPs but refrained from commenting on the issue of term limits.

"Our party’s meetings have not yet been held to discuss this matter in depth," said Ms Chatanda.

An independent lawyer Faraji Mangula, however, supported the call for term limits, emphasising that it would allow for more individuals to gain experience in public service.

"The current system allows some individuals to cling to these positions for extended periods, blocking others from gaining valuable experience," Mangula said.

A social and political analyst, Dr Faraja Kristomus, pointed to the opaque nature of the special seats selection process, which has led to questions about its fairness and effectiveness.

“The process may seem transparent initially, but decisions about who gets selected often appear unclear, leading to complaints. If the system were more transparent, it would be easier for the public to access these seats,” argued Dr Kristomus.

He also noted that there were concerns about special seats being used as a means to reward political spouses, undermining the integrity of the system.

"There is a lack of enforcement of the Political Parties Act, which mandates that parties manage special seats in a fair and transparent manner. Amendments to the law are needed to address these issues," Dr Kristomus insisted.

The debate over term limits for special seat MPs continues to divide opinion.

While some argue that it is necessary to inject fresh leadership into the political system, others caution against such a move, emphasising the need for a more inclusive, and transparent process.

Ultimately, the future of special seats in Tanzania’s parliament may depend on broader constitutional reforms that address these concerns and ensure that political power remains accountable to the people.