Tabling of Constitution Review bill in doubt

BY SYLIVESTER DOMASA

29th October 2013

National Assembly Speaker Anne Makinda (R) chairs management meeting attended by chairpersons of parliamentary standing committees in Dodoma yesterday.

The planned Constitution Review (Amendment) bill 2013 has yet to be submitted to the National Assembly which opens its October meeting here today, it has been learnt.

The government had pleaded to retable the Act in the current meeting, so that elements which the official opposition labelled as controversial could be scrutinised and removed.

The National Assembly Information Services acting director, Deogratias Egidio told reporters here yesterday that the House was yet to receive the draft document incorporating views of the opposition from the government.
He said by late afternoon yesterday, information availed to the law making body noted that the revised Constitution Amendment Bill, 2013 was still being processed and will be submitted as an emergency document.

President Jakaya Kikwete signed Constitution Review Amendment Bill, 2013 into law early this month, but later met the country’s major opposition parties of Chadema, Civic United Front and NCCR-Mageuzi to discuss contentious areas.

After meeting the opposition parties at the state house the President asked them to submit their recommendations so that they could be discussed by the House and incorporated into the law during its 13th session.

The parties had formed an alliance, threatening to conduct joint campaigns throughout the country to pressurise President Kikwete not to sign the Bill into law following its enactment by Parliament on September 6, this year.

Egidio said that the National Assembly is expected to debate amendments on Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No.3) Bill, 2013 and the Referendum Bill, 2013.
He said the House would discuss any other legislative matters which have not been included in the parliamentary schedule of the 13th House session.

Meanwhile, The National Assembly Information Service acting director said the two-week House sessions will debate the government’s development plan for the 2014/15 financial year.

“The debate will take up to five days, mostly discussing the budget calendar cycle. The House will also sit as a committee to discuss the government’s plans set to be implemented during the 2014/15 financial year,” he stated. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN