By By Bernard Lugongo The Citizen Reporter
IN SUMMARY
But, some noted that in spite of the challenges the two issues helped cement the opposition as a united front that meant business, thus giving the nation a new direction under which opposition may forge a stronger political block.
Dar es Salaam. Commentators have described the year 2014 as politically difficult with a lot of challenges that threatened to tear the country apart. They singled out the Tegeta escrow account scandal as well as the writing of a new constitution as two serious issues that polarised the country.
But, some noted that in spite of the challenges the two issues helped cement the opposition as a united front that meant business, thus giving the nation a new direction under which opposition may forge a stronger political block.
Ukawa, an outfit born out of protests against the ruling party’s (Chama Cha Mapinduzi -- CCM) use of tyranny of numbers in the Constituent Assembly (CA), has grown stronger turning into what revolutionary politicians term a force to be reckoned with.Ukawa, which stands for Umoja wa Katiba ya Wananchi or Coalition of defenders of people’s Constitution was formed after opposition political parties realised that separately they could hardly challenge CCM in determining important features of the Proposed Constitution.
It was first formed by three parties – Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), Civic United Front (CUF) and NCCR-Mageuzi while the National League for Democracy (NLD) joined at a later date.
But it seems that the parties have noted the advantage of working together and they have in principle agreed to extend their unity beyond the constitution making process to other political activities such as elections.
Commentators who spoke to The Citizen on Sunday concur that this move has turned out to be a bad omen to the ruling CCM, which has started to find the going tough.
Some political commentators and members of the disbanded Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) who spoke to The Citizen on Sunday recently said despite the challenges, major events which occurred in 2014 have given the country a new good direction, notably in the political arena.
Prof Mwesiga Baregu, a member of the disbanded CRC, said though that the year had a good beginning because the decision to write a new constitution had been made.
“However, its end became unfortunate, featuring political conflicts and divisions with people seemingly to losing hope in acquiring a new mother law as they desired it. This gives bad direction as far as the constitution making process is concerned,” Prof Baregu said.
Political lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Dr Benson Bana, was of the views that the year was engulfed by a lot of challenges that signalled political changes. The writing of the new constitution that gave birth to Ukawa was a significant event, he said.
Dr Bana said Ukawa would give CCM a run for its money, thus improving political scenes in the country as people prepare to elect their top leaders in October in the General Election.
He predicted that the decision by the four parties to work together would attract support from majority of Tanzanians thus giving the ruling party a hard time.
“And, we have started to see the outcome. In previous years many people, including the opposition parties regarded the local government elections as an area where CCM won big victory easily. But 2014 saw the opposition political parties effectively participating in such elections and making inroads even in some CCM strongholds,” he said.
On other hand, he said, the year has fuelled public debate on demanding accountability among government leaders, in the wake of Tegeta escrow account scam.
Mr Humphrey Polepole, the youngest member of the disbanded CRC, gave his views on the year 2014 basing entirely on the Constitution review process, noting that it was a difficult year for the Constitution process in its third stage -- the sitting of the CA.
“The good thing is that it was the year that the Assembly came out with a Proposed Constitution but unfortunately it did not respect the principles of building national consensus when drafting the major law. As the result we are now a divided nation,” Mr Polepole said.
However, Mr Polepole was of the convinction that the year had positive side since it provided wide discussions on supreme law.
He said the Constitution is the remedy for all challenges that the country faces.
Political commentator at Ruaha Catholic University (Rucu), Prof Gaudence Mpangala, argued that the 2014 was not a good year and showed a gloom future politically.
Crafting of new Constitution and Tegeta escrow account scandal were the two major issues that have put the nation in bad position.
Prof Mpangala noted that it was expected that the new Constitution could lay down proper foundation for democratic revolution but things went wrong.
“Earlier in this year the process started well, and many people were happy that now we were going to have a new Constitution, but controversy emerged when people’s views were violated and caused the country to be divided,” he said.
He said the scam indicated a growing trend of corruption which did not bring good image for the future of the country.
Commenting on social services, Mr Irenei Kiria, the executive director of Sikika, said though most health sector outcome gains or challenges are usually achieved on long term period, there are specific programmes which Tanzania has performed consistently well over the past year.
“For example, immunization coverage has consistently remained over 70 per cent for the past several years,” he said noting also that in terms of specific diseases, available data indicate that malaria infections have declined from 18 per cent in 2008 to nine per cent in 2011.
“We should also remember that the government in collaboration with other partners successfully managed to avert the possibility of Ebola spreading to Tanzania,” he adds.
richard
According to procrastination year 2015 will be worse than year 2014 for people of all walks of life but in particular the political heavyweights and religious leaders who go against ethics!! however, one point of interest to be noted is that had Mama Anna Makinda been elected to the post of Speaker for the New Constitutional Assembly instead of honorable Sitta, we would have come out with a tangible constitution for Tanzanians just as she successfully handled the Tegeta -Escrow scandal! Kudos honorable Anna Makinda and not forgetting honorable Ndugai and Zungu.
http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/the-year-that-threatened-/-/1840392/2571148/-/lfocqz/-/index.html
IN SUMMARY
But, some noted that in spite of the challenges the two issues helped cement the opposition as a united front that meant business, thus giving the nation a new direction under which opposition may forge a stronger political block.
Dar es Salaam. Commentators have described the year 2014 as politically difficult with a lot of challenges that threatened to tear the country apart. They singled out the Tegeta escrow account scandal as well as the writing of a new constitution as two serious issues that polarised the country.
But, some noted that in spite of the challenges the two issues helped cement the opposition as a united front that meant business, thus giving the nation a new direction under which opposition may forge a stronger political block.
Ukawa, an outfit born out of protests against the ruling party’s (Chama Cha Mapinduzi -- CCM) use of tyranny of numbers in the Constituent Assembly (CA), has grown stronger turning into what revolutionary politicians term a force to be reckoned with.Ukawa, which stands for Umoja wa Katiba ya Wananchi or Coalition of defenders of people’s Constitution was formed after opposition political parties realised that separately they could hardly challenge CCM in determining important features of the Proposed Constitution.
It was first formed by three parties – Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), Civic United Front (CUF) and NCCR-Mageuzi while the National League for Democracy (NLD) joined at a later date.
But it seems that the parties have noted the advantage of working together and they have in principle agreed to extend their unity beyond the constitution making process to other political activities such as elections.
Commentators who spoke to The Citizen on Sunday concur that this move has turned out to be a bad omen to the ruling CCM, which has started to find the going tough.
Some political commentators and members of the disbanded Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) who spoke to The Citizen on Sunday recently said despite the challenges, major events which occurred in 2014 have given the country a new good direction, notably in the political arena.
Prof Mwesiga Baregu, a member of the disbanded CRC, said though that the year had a good beginning because the decision to write a new constitution had been made.
“However, its end became unfortunate, featuring political conflicts and divisions with people seemingly to losing hope in acquiring a new mother law as they desired it. This gives bad direction as far as the constitution making process is concerned,” Prof Baregu said.
Political lecturer at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), Dr Benson Bana, was of the views that the year was engulfed by a lot of challenges that signalled political changes. The writing of the new constitution that gave birth to Ukawa was a significant event, he said.
Dr Bana said Ukawa would give CCM a run for its money, thus improving political scenes in the country as people prepare to elect their top leaders in October in the General Election.
He predicted that the decision by the four parties to work together would attract support from majority of Tanzanians thus giving the ruling party a hard time.
“And, we have started to see the outcome. In previous years many people, including the opposition parties regarded the local government elections as an area where CCM won big victory easily. But 2014 saw the opposition political parties effectively participating in such elections and making inroads even in some CCM strongholds,” he said.
On other hand, he said, the year has fuelled public debate on demanding accountability among government leaders, in the wake of Tegeta escrow account scam.
Mr Humphrey Polepole, the youngest member of the disbanded CRC, gave his views on the year 2014 basing entirely on the Constitution review process, noting that it was a difficult year for the Constitution process in its third stage -- the sitting of the CA.
“The good thing is that it was the year that the Assembly came out with a Proposed Constitution but unfortunately it did not respect the principles of building national consensus when drafting the major law. As the result we are now a divided nation,” Mr Polepole said.
However, Mr Polepole was of the convinction that the year had positive side since it provided wide discussions on supreme law.
He said the Constitution is the remedy for all challenges that the country faces.
Political commentator at Ruaha Catholic University (Rucu), Prof Gaudence Mpangala, argued that the 2014 was not a good year and showed a gloom future politically.
Crafting of new Constitution and Tegeta escrow account scandal were the two major issues that have put the nation in bad position.
Prof Mpangala noted that it was expected that the new Constitution could lay down proper foundation for democratic revolution but things went wrong.
“Earlier in this year the process started well, and many people were happy that now we were going to have a new Constitution, but controversy emerged when people’s views were violated and caused the country to be divided,” he said.
He said the scam indicated a growing trend of corruption which did not bring good image for the future of the country.
Commenting on social services, Mr Irenei Kiria, the executive director of Sikika, said though most health sector outcome gains or challenges are usually achieved on long term period, there are specific programmes which Tanzania has performed consistently well over the past year.
“For example, immunization coverage has consistently remained over 70 per cent for the past several years,” he said noting also that in terms of specific diseases, available data indicate that malaria infections have declined from 18 per cent in 2008 to nine per cent in 2011.
“We should also remember that the government in collaboration with other partners successfully managed to avert the possibility of Ebola spreading to Tanzania,” he adds.
richard
According to procrastination year 2015 will be worse than year 2014 for people of all walks of life but in particular the political heavyweights and religious leaders who go against ethics!! however, one point of interest to be noted is that had Mama Anna Makinda been elected to the post of Speaker for the New Constitutional Assembly instead of honorable Sitta, we would have come out with a tangible constitution for Tanzanians just as she successfully handled the Tegeta -Escrow scandal! Kudos honorable Anna Makinda and not forgetting honorable Ndugai and Zungu.
http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/News/the-year-that-threatened-/-/1840392/2571148/-/lfocqz/-/index.html
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