The Constituent Assembly (CA) chairman,
Samuel Sitta, has asked members to continue
giving their opinions on Sections 37 and 38 of
the Standing Orders before the technical
committee chairperson presents resolutions
on the same tomorrow.
He made the statement when briefing
members yesterday morning when
announcing procedures for selecting the CA
committee chairpersons and vice
chairpersons.
“CA Members should today continue to air
their views on the mode of voting to be used
in the Assembly,” Sitta said.
He added: “I hope you are aware that when
we postponed the discussion on the mode of
voting we were delving into whether it should
be open or secret. You now have to give your
comments on the way forward.”
Tomorrow, Sitta said, the chairmen of the
Technical Committee and Parliamentary
Rights will present resolutions passed in their
deliberations on the changes of the rules.
On the House committees, Sitta said there
would be fourteen committees made up of
between 52 and 53 members. Each one of
them will have a chairperson and vice
chairperson.
He urged CA members to elect credible
chairpersons who will be able to present well
thought out recommendations during the
sessions.
“You have to elect qualified leaders since the
posts will be of crucial importance in our
daily activities,” he stressed.
Sitta also urged CA members to discuss the
various articles in time in order to enable
other activities also to be carried out.
“We have a time limit. Let us complete our
assignment in time to pave the way for
implementation of other activities,” he said.
Meanwhile, some CA members explaining
their concerns over the qualifications of the
committee chairpersons and vice chairpersons
said: “You did not tell us the required
qualifications for the two roles … how will we
conduct elections under these circumstances?”
asked Habib Mnyaa.
He also said there was fear that the two
committee leaders might come from the
ruling party (CCM) because it has more
members than the rest.
He insisted that election of the committee
leaders should consider members from all
groups including Zanzibar.
According to Sitta CA members will tomorrow
debate the constitution draft and President
Kikwete’s speech before they embark on
committee discussions.
Two weeks ago the CA endorsed the Standing
Orders to be used by the Assembly members
during the 70 days of constitution making.
Clause 26 (1) of the Constitutional Review
Act states that it is mandatory for the CA to
devise its own rules and that the regulations
must be endorsed by all members.
The second constitution draft was tabled last
Tuesday by Chairman of the Constitution
Review Commission (CRC), Judge Joseph
Warioba before President Jakaya Kikwete was
invited as the chief guest to address the
members on Friday.
The CA has 628 members 386 of them being
men, equivalent to 61.5 percent and 242
women, equivalent to 38.5 percent.
Of the figure 416 are from Tanzania
Mainland representing (66.2 percent) and
212 are from Zanzibar equivalent to (33.8
percent).
CA members from Tanzania Mainland who
are in parliament are 346 (55 percent),
while those who are in the House of
Representatives are 82 members (13
percent). This leaves only 201 members in
the total, who are presidential appointees, an
equivalent of (32 percent).
Meanwhile Sitta yesterday swore in several
members who were absent when their
colleagues took the oath. They included the
Speaker of the National Assembly, Anna
Makinda, the minister of Community
Development, Gander and Children, Sophia
Simba, Deputy minister in the Prime
Ministers' Office (Regional Administration and
Local Government), Said Mtanda, Susan
Lyimo and Hamad Rashid Mohammed.
The exercise to swear in CA members is
expected to continue today.
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