The National Electoral Commission (NEC) is expected to announce the referendum date this week now that the Biometric Voters Registration (BVR) has ended on Tuesday countrywide.
NEC Chairman (Retired) Judge Damian Lubuva said he would now meet with commissioners to discuss proper date for the referendum.
Speaking to the Guardian in a telephone interview yesterday in Dar es Salaam Judge Lubuva said “After two or three days I will be able to issue a statement about the referendum ”
Early April, NEC postponed indefinitely the referendum for the proposed constitution which was earlier scheduled for April 30, this year.
This week Tanzania Constitutional Forum (TCF) appealed to President Jakaya Kikwete to give an update on the referendum which was postponed indefinitely to pave the way for the registration of voters through BVR.
TCF acting chairman, Hebron Mwakagenda said the only solution was for the President to come out openly and tell the public either the process is ongoing, postponed or abandoned.
Mwakagenda stressed that Kikwete’s silence had left the majority in dilemma since he had never said anything on the constitution review since the time it was postponed.
“Kikwete should not put the public doubtful but has to address them if the process had failed and what was next. He should tell us if it was still on the government’s agenda,” he stressed.
“Kikwete should not put the public doubtful but has to address them if the process had failed and what was next. He should tell us if it was still on the government’s agenda,” he stressed.
He added “Kikwete also needs to officially direct the government to start preparations of the two bills on the constitution process to be tabled during the coming National Assembly session.”
The two bills mentioned include the referendum process which was to take place on April 30 and the proposed constitution amendment act.
Mwakagenda stressed that the president must tell the public which organ is going to supervise the process so as to avoid unnecessary hitches.
However, Mwakagenda pointed out that since there had been no stakeholders’ reconciliation on the matter, there must be a signed agreement that would involve the stakeholders as well.
He also said the agreements reached between Kikwete and the political parties in Chamwino, Dodoma was a good start in the discussion before the process was set to go.
According to him, there must be a signed agreement between political parties to continue with the constitution process upon him leaving office.
He said Kikwete must fasten such a process before the end of his term and each party must respect the agreement which will be signed in order for the process to continue.
He said apart from Kikwete, civil society organisations have the duty also to start the preparations on the way forward which will help the nation get a new constitution.
“Widen the scope of various stakeholders outside political parties including workers’ unions, CSOs, religion institutions, organisations and intellectual groups will be of great importance,” he stressed.
Mwakagenda said that a national constitutional conference must be held before the referendum process takes place.
The BVR registration was launched by Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda and started in Njombe Region in February, this year and it was concluded on August 4 in Dar es Salaam.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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