Union structure debate lingers on

Opposition Chief Whip Tundu Lissu speaks at a meeting. Right is Chadema secretary-general Willibrod Slaa. The opposition party is for a three-tier government structure. PHOTO | FILE

Dar es Salaam. Contentious issues in the structure of the Union still bite on the on-going writing of new Constitution, as the Constituent Assembly meetings approach.

Worries among stakeholders are piling up on whether the new Constitution will make any sense without first addressing the issues concerning the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar.

Although the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC)’s schedule indicates that the new supreme law will be ready next year, some experts say the problems facing the Union may not occasion a good Constitution.

The structure of the Union and the composition of the Constituent Assembly were some of the issues debated in Dar es Salaam recently at a forum organised by the East Africa Business and Media Training Institute and the forum was televised live by some local TV and radio stations.

Dr Aley Soud Nassor, an academician from Zanzibar, said the country had reached a stage at which it needed the Constitution for at least 50 years, but unfortunately the problems facing the Union have not been addressed.

Dr Nassor explained that a referendum should have been held to give people the opportunity to determine whether they still needed the Union or not. He, however, said three governments were better for the Union.

Opposition Chief Whip in the Parliament, Mr Tundu Lissu, too said three governments were better for the Union. He explained that it was difficult to maintain the current structure of two governments of the Union in a multiparty democracy.

“The two-tier government structure was possible only under a one party and totalitarian system where people were not allowed to question things,” Mr Lissu noted. Mr Lissu also said without addressing the problems facing the Union, the new Constitution would not mean much. Njelu Kasaka, former CCM MP, also said the referendum should have been held to enable people to accept or reject the Union. He said a three-tier government system would be better for Tanzania.

Mr Kasaka explained that differing views on the Union structure between the ruling party and opposition parties were indicative of politicians’ lack of courage to sit together and discuss Union challenges. Mr Saed Kubenea, a seasoned journalist, urged opponents of the three-tier government to stop scaring people about the possibility of having three governments. He said under current circumstances a two-tier government system would not hold water because of some changes that the people of Zanzibar want.

At the forum, most participants expressed their worries, saying the system to elect members of the Constituent Assembly had not represented the grassroots.

The current system through, which MPs automatically become members of the Constituent Assembly is inadequate and will give more powers to politicians to dominate the constitution making process because 76 per cent of the members (438) are politicians.

Participants suggested that to come up with a good Constitution there was a need to address the composition of the Constituent Assembly issue by adding the number of ordinary citizens and reducing the number of politicians to minimise chances of having the new Constitution reflecting the interests of political parties only.