Former Constitution Review Commission chairman Joseph Warioba
yesterday cautioned against the holding of political rallies linked to the
writing of a new constitution. Mr Warioba told The Citizen in an exclusive
interview that both the ruling CCM and the Coalition of the Defenders of the
People’s Constitution (Ukawa) should immediately stop conducting such
meetings. He said the meetings would only worsen the confusion ahead of
the resumption of Constituent Assembly (CA) sessions in August.
“These meetings are not important at the moment...they don’t
help to change or solve anything except create more problems,” Mr Warioba
said. He added that CCM and Ukawa should wait for the campaign period that
would precede the referendum on which Tanzanians would vote on the proposed constitution. Mr
Warioba said heightened tensions were the last thing Tanzanians needed at this
moment, and urged CCM and Ukawa to focus on other issues. He also called on the
two sides to iron out their differences before the CA resumed its sitting.
“The two sides should meet and discuss
their differences before going back to Dodoma in August. This will help to
remove obstacles in the process of writing a new constitution,” Mr Warioba
said. Peace and stability would be in jeopardy if CCM and Ukawa stick to
their hardline positions on the draft constitution, he said, adding that
consensus was key in the process. “We need to find a solution to the
stalemate following the differences between Ukawa and CCM...it will be better
if these two sides reach a consensus before the resumption of CA sessions in
August.” CA proceedings took a dramatic turn in April when Ukawa members
marched out, claiming they could not continue to participate in a process that
was a recipe for disaster. Ukawa is made up of CA members drawn from the
three major opposition parties – Chadema, CUF and NCCR-Mageuzi.
Mugaralu F./ The Citizen
Former Constitution Review Commission chairman Joseph Warioba
yesterday cautioned against the holding of political rallies linked to the
writing of a new constitution. Mr Warioba told The Citizen in an exclusive
interview that both the ruling CCM and the Coalition of the Defenders of the
People’s Constitution (Ukawa) should immediately stop conducting such
meetings. He said the meetings would only worsen the confusion ahead of
the resumption of Constituent Assembly (CA) sessions in August.
“These meetings are not important at the moment...they don’t
help to change or solve anything except create more problems,” Mr Warioba
said. He added that CCM and Ukawa should wait for the campaign period that
would precede the referendum on which Tanzanians would vote on the proposed constitution. Mr
Warioba said heightened tensions were the last thing Tanzanians needed at this
moment, and urged CCM and Ukawa to focus on other issues. He also called on the
two sides to iron out their differences before the CA resumed its sitting.
“The two sides should meet and discuss
their differences before going back to Dodoma in August. This will help to
remove obstacles in the process of writing a new constitution,” Mr Warioba
said. Peace and stability would be in jeopardy if CCM and Ukawa stick to
their hardline positions on the draft constitution, he said, adding that
consensus was key in the process. “We need to find a solution to the
stalemate following the differences between Ukawa and CCM...it will be better
if these two sides reach a consensus before the resumption of CA sessions in
August.” CA proceedings took a dramatic turn in April when Ukawa members
marched out, claiming they could not continue to participate in a process that
was a recipe for disaster. Ukawa is made up of CA members drawn from the
three major opposition parties – Chadema, CUF and NCCR-Mageuzi.
Mugaralu F./ The Citizen
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