Tanzania: Debate On Draft Constitution Continues On Tuesday

The Flamboyant and the Magnificent Samuel Sitta who is now wallowing in deep 
shit is seen above left alone in the Assembly deeply thinking and excogitating upon his next move: whom to please, CCM die-hards or the people?

Dodoma — THE Constituent Assembly (CA) resumes its debate on Chapters One and Six of the Katiba draft here this morning, after a four-day Easter recess.

However, by Monday evening, it remained unclear as to whether a section of the self-anointed 'defenders' of Wananchi's Constitution (Ukawa), would return to the debating chamber as they walked out in protest last Wednesday.

Even with the Ukawa boycott last week, debates on Chapters One and Six of the Draft Constitution continued in the debating chamber on Thursday before breaking off for Easter holidays.

The debates that resume today are meant to last till Friday. It was earlier planned that voting on the two chapters would take place. After this phase of the assembly the members would break off for three months to give way to the Parliamentary marathon budget session.

Ukawa, which walked out before debates ended last week, comprises Chadema, CUF and NCCR-Mageuzi members in the CA as well as some 25 members of Group 201.

House Chairman Samuel Sitta had since Thursday attempted to roll out a hand of peace with Ukawa members, but confirmed at the time that convincing members of Ukawa to rejoin the Katiba Assembly was difficult.
The Ukawa members walked out of the CA on Wednesday, citing what they termed as discrimination perpetrated by CCM members.

Chadema national chairman Freeman Mbowe chairs it along with his CUF and NCCR-Mageuzi counterparts Ibrahim Lipumba and James Mbatia respectively.

The group announced before departure on Thursday that they were quitting the process altogether. It is not clear yet whether they have altered their stance.

They told a press conference in Dodoma that they are taking the drastic action on account of what they alleged to be bullying behaviour demonstrated by other delegates when debating the Second Draft Constitution.

Prof Lipumba said up to 190 MCAs are in the group that walked out, claiming further that others who remained behind were "silently supporting Ukawa."

He announced that Ukawa would mount countrywide rallies, starting with Zanzibar, to explain to the people why they have decided to abandon the Katiba process.

Prof Lipumba had said they would only go back to the CA once they are certain the debate will tackle the real issues in the Second Draft Constitution and that the majority will refrain from discrimination.

On Friday, the CA chair, Mr Samuel Sitta, said the matter had been referred to the steering committee of the Assembly and hoped a solution would be found soon by involving the Ukawa members who sit in the committee.

Mr Sitta said the matter could also be forwarded to the President if necessary. On Thursday, Mr Sitta said the fate of CA members who walked out of the debating chamber the previous day, would be determined by the Assembly Committee on Leadership which was scheduled to meet the same day.

During the Easter period religious leaders urged Ukawa members to return to the House for dialogue.