Stakeholders: Amend the current constitution to make poll reforms effective

Dar es Salaam. A two-day meeting of democracy stakeholders and political parties concluded on Thursday, May 9 with a proposal for minor constitutional amendments so as to make electoral law reforms effective.

One of the contentious issues in the elections is the disputed independence of the electoral commission, whose chairperson and vice chairperson are appointed by the President as required by the Constitution.

Leaders of various political parties, activists and other stakeholders have been calling for the removal of presidential powers to appoint the commission’s top officials.

 These calls were not accommodated in the recent reforms, which saw amendments to the three election-related laws because of the constitutional clauses that remain intact.

As the government prepares to draft a new constitution, the stakeholders propose that minor changes be made to the current constitution so as to accommodate their demands.

"There is a need to make minor changes to the constitution to broaden the scope of accommodating our opinions and improvements that need to be made while the process of obtaining a new constitution continues," said Mr Buruani Mshale from Twaweza, a think tank organisation, who presented the meeting resolutions.

The meeting, organised by the Tanzania Centre for Democracy (TCD), focused on a national reflection and joint understanding-building on the electoral laws recently passed ahead of the local government and general elections.

Some of the leaders who attended include former Attorney General Mr Andrew Chenge, Kilosa MP Prof Palamagamba Kabudi, ACT-Wazalendo (Mainland) vice chairman Issihaka Mchinjita, NCCR-Mageuzi (Mainland) vice chairman Joseph Selasini, CUF chairman Prof Ibrahim Lipumba, Chadema's director of protocol, communication, and foreign affairs Mr John Mrema and other prominent politicians from both the ruling party CCM and opposition parties.

Mr Mshale clarified that the minor constitutional changes would enable the consideration of proposals in the electoral laws that were not previously considered.

He said there were arguments presented that the skipped proposals contradicted or violated various provisions of the Constitution.

Other recommendations, according to Mr Mshale, include continuing to embrace the philosophy of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, commonly known as the 4Rs (Reconciliation, Resilience, Reform and Rebuilding), in building a better democracy in the country.

Mr Mshale said stakeholders had agreed to continue utilising the emerging political will and freedom in the country to hold forums.

"We know where we come from and where we are….holding such forums in the past was difficult, but we now have this opportunity. Let's continue to use it. We should not be discouraged by others who continue to criticise as we utilise the opportunity,” he said.