Some find draft's language too technical
Anne Kilango Malecela
The two chapters of the draft covers the Union issue which has already divided the members in partisan camps.
The chairpersons of the committees commenting on the first day of the work, said, that the two days initially allocated to the discussion and analysis of the two chapters will not be enough.
Briefing the media, Chairperson of Committee number 11, Anne Kilango Malecela said yesterday that time is the biggest challenge they have encountered so far. She said she was planning to request CA chairman Samuel Sitta to allow them more time to cover the chapters thoroughly.
“We have only gone through part one of Chapter One and even when we resume our meeting in the evening we will still be dealing with the same, meaning by the end of day one we will still have part two of Chapter One pending,” said Malecela, adding: “The leadership committee also noted that the two days were not enough from the beginning.”
She said another challenge was the lack of understanding of some of the terms used in the draft constitution by some CA members.
She said she had contacted the Chairman of the CA to assign an expert to clarify the unclear terms to the delegates as provided for in section 56 (7) of the standing orders, which allows the chairman of the CA can invite an expert in the meetings for elaborations.
She said they were expecting the expert at her committee’s evening session yesterday.
She however said the discussions in her committee were going well, insisting that during the meeting the delegates presented their points based on constructive arguments rather than using strong or offensive language.
The Chairperson of Committee One Ummy Mwalimu said before they started discussion on the two chapters members demanded to be provided with the Union charter which wasn’t available right away but was provided half an hour later.
She also said some members encountered difficulties in understanding some of the terms such as state, federation, thus those who were presenting their arguments had to make reference to books and materials for clarity.
Mwalimu also said the time set for analysis of the two chapters was not enough.
She said all members have agreed that the two days given for the committees to conclude their work was not enough.
“So far we are analysing part one of Chapter one, which has five sections. We have not touched chapter six yet … we are going to inform the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly to see the possibility of extending time for the committees to accomplish their work,” Mwalimu said.
Chairperson of Committee Number Nine, Kidawa Salehe said
the members should be given at least four days, saying she has many requests from the members who want to contribute their views during the sessions.
Meanwhile two people were arrested yesterday at St Gaspar Conference Centre where three committee meetings were taking place. The two were carrying placards bearing messages which show their dissatisfaction with the ongoing constituent assembly. The suspects also visited another venue where the other committee meetings were in progress.
When contacted for confirmation, Dodoma Regional Police Commander, David Misime said he was not aware of the arrests but would make a follow up.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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