Posted Friday, September 13 2013 at 00:00
In Summary
This is to say that, of the 351 MPs, the
Opposition’s 80 - more than 25 per cent – declined to even be there when
the vote for such a crucial Bill was taking place!
On September 5, Parliament passed the
Constitutional Review Act Amendment Bill 2013. It was not plain sailing,
though, hence the discontent that continues to trail the debate. There
was a lot of acrimony, with critics of the Bill claiming it was brought
to the august House before the views of some key stakeholders were taken
on board.
Opponents of the Bill say they are concerned that
it will be heavily loaded with the ruling party’s interests. The conduct
of MPs ahead of passing of the Bill was also an issue, for it was
characterised by unprecedented ill temper.
When adults whose names we prefix with
“honourable” go physical in the full glare of TV cameras , we know for
sure that something is terribly wrong.
The Opposition – all but one from the Tanzania Labour Party – boycotted the vote that gave the nod to the Bill.
This is to say that, of the 351 MPs, the
Opposition’s 80 - more than 25 per cent – declined to even be there when
the vote for such a crucial Bill was taking place!
There is also the disquiet over the 166 delegates
to be appointed by the President to the all-important 604-member
Constituent Assembly. Does it have to be that way, and can experts
explain it to the satisfaction of the disgruntled?
We have said this before, but we will do so again
for purposes of clarity: The Constitution, aptly referred to as the
Mother Law, is meant for every citizen. It is not about leaders who come
and go, anyway, whether they are in the ruling party or the Opposition.
Any segment of the population that is agitating
for constitutional provisions geared at political expediency could well
be doing an injustice to their own children and grandchildren. It is
that basic, when you give it some serious thought.
Consensus is inevitable. The buck stops at the President’s feet.
SOURCE: THE CITIZEN
SOURCE: THE CITIZEN
