Tanzania: Sitta names members of consultation team

The chairman of the Constituent Assembly (CA), Mr Samuel Sitta, has formed a 30-member consultations committee, which, among other things, aims at ending the standoff facing the constitution writing process.

But the move could face a huddle even before it holds its first meeting with one of the main antagonists immediately declaring that they did not recognise the move.

According to an advertisement posted yesterday in the media by CA clerk Yahya Khamis, the role of the committee will be to evaluate CA work so far as well as chat the way forward in executing the major objective of the Assembly.

“After consulting CA vice chairperson Ms Samia Hassan Suluhu and by using CA standing order number 54(4) and (5) the CA chairman has formed a 30-member reconciliation committee,” the notice reads in part.

According to the notice, the committee will hold its meeting on July 24 and 25 at the National Assembly’s offices in Dar es Salaam.

But Chadema secretary general Dr Wilbrod Slaa, whose party members are among those who have boycotted the CA, yesterday hinted that the members would not attend the meeting planned by Mr Sitta.

According to Dr Slaa, Mr Sitta formed the committee from his powers as CA chairman, and Ukawa has boycotted to participate in anything that is officially CA controlled.

“At the time our members walked out we said every means within the CA reach had failed to guarantee our concerns, and now he forms a committee which is composed of members of the CA who are on record to be very bitter at us, there is nothing to talk to them about,” he said.

He said that they will only go back to the CA when they are guaranteed that the meetings will be based on the Second Draft Constitution and data presented by the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) and not any other agenda, something which is yet to be achieved.

The mixed development came in just a few days after President Jakaya Kikwete said that he was optimistic talks between the registrar of Political Parties and major political parties will unlock the stalemate on the Constitution writing process.

According to the advertisement, the Sitta committee contains eight members from the Coalition of Defenders of Wananchi Constitution (Ukawa) who, in April, boycotted the CA meetings.

They include Chadema chairman Freeman Mbowe and his CUF and NCCR counterparts Prof Ibrahimu Lipumba and Mr James Mbatia respectively.