Mwassa Jingi
Now we have
proposed constitution which if things go well on the side of the ruling party,
it will might be our new constitution sometimes this year or next year depends
on the decision that will be made by our leaders in the government when
referendum is due. For CCM and its government this is already a done deal. But
whatever the case we will have it anyway since our rulers have determined to give
it to us. There is, however, one question which is still lingering in our minds.
Why we got such a proposed constitution which is not supported by many
stakeholders with exception of Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and their fans? The answer is simple: The members of
Constituent Assembly (CA) which was CCM dominated lacked integrity in proposing
new constitution. Their hearts and minds were filled with greed for power and
not will of the people and their posterity.
Lack of integrity divides
people
Integrity
unites people. By the way, what is integrity? When we speak of integrity, we
simply mean: “the quality of always
behaving according to the moral principles that you believe in, so that people
respect and trust you”. People of no integrity are indifferent and do not
care what others say or do against their words or actions. CCM therefore have
portrayed their true colours as people who are not led with moral principles in
leading this country. They lack integrity which is an essential element for
people centred development, especially in this era of multiparty democracy
where people’s voice must not be ignored. CCM may lose respect and trust among
the people it rules.
For people
of integrity, it could not be possible for CCM to go alone in deliberating and
then pass on the new document in the name of the proposed constitution. The CA
could not proceed with its business alone without the whole opposition members
on one side, and at the same time the whole team of erstwhile constitutional
Review Commission was aptly opposing it. Worse even, major religious bodies
like Tanzania Episcopal conference (TEC), Christian Community of Tanzania (CCT)
and Pentecostals’ Council of Tanzania (PCT) together and through formal forum
raised their voice against CA proceedings in Dodoma. Thus, if we add together
these groups which undoubtedly represent a big section of Tanzanian population,
we find that almost half of the people of Tanzania were neither represented nor
in favour with the business of CA which ultimately came out with proposed constitution.
The proposed constitution lacks
blessings of main stakeholders
The way CA
conducted its proceedings was improper and contrary to the way big missions
like this of constitution making process are done in the civilized world. The
ruling party like CCM comprising about 400 delegates, if it were a party of
integrity, it could not afford to go on alone with the CA proceedings in Dodoma
until they produced the final document amid all voices from prominent groups
like the ones I mentioned herein above being against it. The manner in which the
then Chairman of CA blasted our Christian leaders before CA, was very odd and
peculiar behaviour for the long -time leader like Sitta. This is a true evidence
of having leaders who have no integrity in our society. If genuinely CCM was after
people’s wishes, how can they ignore main stakeholders of constitution making?
For whom are they making the constitution for? Constitution is the basic law for
all people, and it is from it, whereby all other laws will originate, hence cannot
be a business of only a few people, leaving others outside as spectators who
have no any interest for future usage.
One,
prominent Bishop from TEC commented that he has already voted NO against
proposed constitution and that his vote will remain so even if he dies before
referendum. Why such a religious leader reached such decision? He was really
annoyed by CA the way it was indifferently and shrewdly conducting its business.
How did our President feel when he was receiving the proposed constitution
without attendance of any member from erstwhile CRC? What kind of history the
proposed constitution will have, if passed to be parent law after referendum?
If the members of CA would be people of integrity, wouldn’t celebrate and dance
in Dodoma knowing that the team which gave them Draft Constitution was not with
them in Dodoma. Can they say that all members of CRC, some of them being
prominent members of CCM and retired Premiers of this country, and retired
Chief Justice, were merely people of feeble minds? No, I don’t think so. CCM
has manipulatively won, but may miss blessings of many groups, including
prominent religious leaders.
The proposed constitution will be in
the Guinness book of records
CCM members and
all those who passed the proposed constitution shrewdly and manipulatively have
highly contributed in fracturing our nation from now on and probably it might
take many decades to heal this malady. Many generations in history who perhaps
will be governed with this constitution will keenly look into the list of the
names of the proponents of the document. They will read the history of the way
constitution was made and find that it was passed by votes of majority of CCM
but worse enough borrowed names of those who were not present like Ambar Khamisi,
and it was also passed by one person who by then was diseased almost three
months prior to voting day. This proposed constitution if is passed through
referendum will be constitution of its kind in history of Tanzania; will be in
the Guinness book of records.
All
malpractices, e.g. a diseased person being among the list of voters who
approved the proposed constitution; absentees being recorded to vote yes, and
one person from one category i.e. from Tanzania Mainland crossed over and voted
in Zanzibar side, are the things which make this proposed constitution
something of its kind in the history of constitution making in the world. High
lack of integrity for members of CA will end up with disgrace and shame in long
time, which will then follow them all days that they will live on this planet
and history will remember them for such malpractice of manipulation and
shrewdness in the making of constitution.
mwassajingi@yahoo.com; 0756 440 175.
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