THE NEW CONSTITUTION SHOULD ABOLISH PRIVILEDGED REPRESENTATION TO ENCOURAGE EQUITY – ACTIVISTS

 Activists from different organizations, ministries, higher learning institutions, within the country have suggested that the New Constitution should remove the system of having Special representation of women in the parliament and establish a new one which will recognize the equal representation of women and men in different leadership positions.

Speaking during the Gender and Development Seminar Series (GDSS), that took place at the TGNP grounds in Mabibo on the 23^rd of July, 2014, activists said that the current system of having special representation of women in the parliament is bad because it demoralizes and undermines women, which affects their performance as leaders

The facilitator of the seminar, the founder member of TGNP Ms. Aseny Muro said that Tanzania needs to improve the system of having a gender balanced representation in all levels of leadership. She also said that Members of Parliament who have been appointed by the president through special representation arrangement should have the authority to make decisions as opposed to the current situation where they can not make decisions about their constituencies like their fellow Members of parliament who have been elected by citizens

“There should be a Gender balance in all levels of leadership. We want to see an equal number of male and female government officials from village level to ministries and government departments. Increasing the number of Women Members of Parliament itself will not make a difference if many government officials are men. This is because government officials are the ones that make decision when it comes to the issue of resource allocation.

Ms. Muro added that, if the Second Draft Constitution will be adopted, the system of having special representation for women in the parliament will have to be abolished since the Draft Constitution requires two Members of Parliament in a constituency, one male and one female. Incase the Draft Constitution will not be adopted, then the special sits arrangement should continue to be implemented.

While speaking on behalf of his fellow participants, Hancy Obote said that the New Constitution should recognize the 50/50 ratio between men and women leaders that is free from conditions and which is fair. He said that the rule of having 50/50 ratio of men and women representatives in the parliament should continue so as to strengthen the voices of marginalized groups in decision making bodies. However, he said that the system of having special sits for women in the parliament should be removed.

Sophia Wambura from The Women’s Constitution Forum (Jukwaa la Wanawake na Katiba) said that, according to the population statistics of 2012, 51 percent of Tanzania’s population are women. Thus, in order to have an image depicting our nationality, there should be a 50/50 ratio of women and men leaders.

Anna Kikwa from TGNP also said that the system of having special representation in the parliament  was introduced with the aim of encouraging women to contest for leadership positions. If the New Constitution will adopt a section of having a male and female representative for a constituency in the Parliament, then the special sits should be removed.

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE FINDINGS DONE BY JUKWAA LA KATIBA TANZANIA (JUKATA) ON THE DISAGREEMENT WITHIN THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY AND THE CONSTITUTION MAKING PROCESS

JUKWAA LA KATIBA TANZANIA is a Forum of Tanzanian Civil Societies under the leadership of a National Steering Committee (NSC). It is a people’s platform for Citizens Participation in the preparation and implementation of the New Constitution of Tanzania. Jukwaa la Katiba Tanzania is coordinating Citizens engagement on Constitutionalism in Tanzania, which will play a decisive role in the passage of the new constitution during 2011 – 2014. While monitoring and reflecting on how the Constituent Assembly was carried out, JUKATA made up a panel of researchers so as to know the essence of the disputes that occurred during the Constituent Assembly before making way for the Budget Sittings. The panel of researchers include Prof. Lumumba from the Kenya School of law, Prof. Bertha Koda from the Institute of Development Studies University of Dar es Salaam and Prof. Gaudence P. Mpangala of St. Augustine Universtiy College, Ruaha – Iringa. The panel came up with the following recommendations;

 

Prof. Lumumba from the Kenya School of law speaking at the Press Conference

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.       That as provided under the enabling statute the Draft Constitution be respected and be the basis of deliberation by members of the Constituent Assembly.

2.       That all member of the Constituent Assembly should participate effectively in the deliberations of the Constituent Assembly as they are enjoined to do under the Law.

3.       That as opined by many stakeholders JUKATA has consulted, while the decision of UKAWA to walk out was understandable the message they intended to communicate has been conveyed and understood, and in the larger interest of the nation they should return and take their positions at the Constituent Assembly when its sessions resume on the 5^th day of August, 2014.

4.       That while there are rules and regulations drafted and adopted to govern the conduct of the proceedings in the Constituent Assembly, there is a remiss in the number of areas which should be improved to facilitate smooth and effective conduct of the Assembly’s business

5.       That over and above the existing dispute resolution mechanisms created under Assembly Rules a Panel of wise men and women not exceeding fifteen (15) drawn from respected Religious Leaders, Retired leaders, Civil Society Organizations, scholars from outside the Constituent Assembly should be empanelled to serve as a reference group to resolve disputes which defy internal resolutions

6.       That the Constitution Review Commission which prepares the draft constitution and is the repository of the processes history be accepted as the secretariat of the Assembly as has been practiced in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Zimbabwe among other countries. In the circumstances the position contemplated under section 37 of the 2012 version of the Constitutional Review Act be restored to provide that the President shall disband the commission only after the successful conduct of the Referendum.

7.       That while it is admitted that in the initial timetable where the new constitution would be ready by the month of April 2014 has now been overtaken by events, and further while it is known that the Local Government Elections are due later in 2014 and the general elections later in 2015 efforts should be made to ensure that a New Constitution is promulgated before the elections are due

8.       In the undesirable but very likely event that time and events do not allow for a new constitution to be delivered before the 2015 general elections, the Constitution Assembly should deliberate and appropriate proposals to the Parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania to amend the Constitutional Review Act in the bind the Government elected during the 2015 general elections to continue with the Constitution review process and to deliver a new constitution within two years

a)      To amend the Constitutional Review Act to facilitate the reconstitution of the Constituent Assembly by having its members elected directly by the people and further to provide that anybody who serves in the Assembly shall be banned from seeking an elective office for a period of five years following the promulgation of the New Constitution

9.       That upon resumption of the proceedings of the Assembly the members permit the conduct of a seminar to be conducted by experts to share with the experience of similar processes in other countries as a basis for learning from best practices

10.   That the Constituent Assembly should consider amending their Rules and regulations to permit the election and co-existence of the co-conveners for Assembly organs

 

On the basis of research undertaken on constitutional review process in different countries it is imperative that Tanzania should learn from the experiences of countries like Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Egypt and Benin among others to adapt and adopt positive aspects and to avoid pitfalls.

Lastly, it is imperative that throughout its deliberations, members of the Constituent Assembly should be guided by the best interests of the Nation and the generation as well as generations to come.

Katiba mpya ifute viti maalum- wanaharakati

WANAHARAKATI kutoka mashirika mbalimbali nchini wamependekeza katiba mpya ijayo ifute kabisa mfumo wa kuwa na viti maalum na kuweka mwingine utakaotambua uwakilishi sawia wa wanawake na wanaume katika vyombo vya uwakilishi.

Pia wamewataka wajumbe wa Bunge maalum la katiba linalotarajia kuendelea wiki ijayo mjini Dodoma kuhakikisha wanasimamia  kwa umakini vifungu vyote vinavyolinda usawa wa kijinsia katika uwakilishi wa wananchi na mgawanyo wa rasilimali  katika rasimu ya pili ya katiba mpya iliyotolewa na Tume ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba.

Wakizungumza wakati wa Semina ya Maendeleo na Jinsia (GDSS), iliyofanyika katika viwanja vya TGNP Mtandao- Mabibo wanaharakati hao kwa pamoja walisema kuwa mfumo wa sasa wa viti maalum  haufai kwani unawadhalilisha na kuwadhoofisha wanawake kiutendaji na kuwaweka pembezoni zaidi.

Mtoa mada katika jukwaa hilo la wazi lilofanyika katika viwanja vya TGNP Mabibo Jumatano jioni, Mjumbe wa Mtandao wa Wanawake na Katiba na mwanachama mwanzilishi wa TGNP, Aseny Muro alisema kuwa  Tanzania inahitaji kuboresha mfumo wa uwakilishi unaozingatia usawa wa kijinsia katika ngazi zote na wanaopewa nafasi wawe na mamlaka kamili ya maamuzi tofauti na sasa mbavyo wabunge wa viti maalum bado hawana uwezo wa kuamua au kufanya maamuzi katika majimbo wanayotoka   kama walivyo wabunge wa kuchaguliwa.

“Usawa wa jinsia kwenye uwakilishi unatakiwa kuanzia ngazi zote, kuanzia ngazi ya kijiji au mtaa, hadi watendaji wote wa serikali kuu,  kuongeza wabunge pekee pia ahaitasaidia kama watendaji wa serikali ni jinsia moja na ndio wanaofanya maamuzi ya mgawanyo wa rasilimali. Tunataka kuona watendaji wa vijiji, kata, wilaya, mikoa, wizara na idara za serikali  ambao uwiano wao ni sawia kijinsia:” alisema Muro

Aliongeza kuwa kwa hali ilivyo na jinsia mchakato wa Kuandaa katiba mpya unavyokwenda  kuna haja ya kufuta kabisa mfumo wa  viti maalum na kupitisha mfumo wa uwakilishi wa majimbo wa kila jimbo kuwa na Mbunge wa kuchaguliwa mwanamke  na endapo katiba mpya haitapitisha kifungu hicho  viti malum viendelee.

Akizungumza kwa niaba ya wezake wakati wa kuwasilisha  majumuisho ya washiriki, Hancy Obote, alisema kuwa katiba mpya inatakiwa kutamnbua waziwazi uwakilishi wa 50/50 bila kuweka masharti na kuwepo na usawa katika uwakilishi huo.

Alisema kuwa uwakilishi wa 50/50 ukibaki utaongeza sauti za pamoja katika vyombo vya maamuzi serikalini,  lakini viti maalum visiwepo kabisa

“Sisi kwa upande wetu tunaona viti maalum vifutwe kabisa na visiwepo baada ya hii katiba, tunadai kulindwa na kukubaliwa  kama ilivyoainishwa kwenye rasimu ya Pili ya Katiba mpya”alisema

Kwa upande wake Sophia Wambura kutoka Mtandao wa Wanawake na katiba alisema kuwa   kwa mujibu wa takwimu za idadi ya watu za mwaka 2012,  watanzania walio wengi asilimia 51 ni wanawake ili kuwa na taswira  ya utaifa ni lazima kuwa na uwiano wa 50 kwa 50 katika uwakilishi.

Anna Kikwa kutoka TGNP Mtandao alisema kuwa  awali viti maalum vilianzishwa kwa lengo la kuwainua wanawake ili waweze kuingia katika nafasi za maamuzi, wakue na baadaye wagombee, kama Katiba mpya itaingizwa kifungu cha kuwa na mgombea ubunge mwanamke na wakashinda basi viti maalum vinatakiwa kufutwa mara moja.

“ kama rasimu ya pili ya katiba isipopuitishwa au wakikitoa hiki kifungu kinachodai uasawa wa kijinsia kwenye Bunge, basi viti maalum viendelee kubaki katika mfumo ulipo hivi sasa” alisema Kikwa.

Mtandao wa wanawake na katiba wataka wahariri kuandika habari za jinsia

Mtandao wa wanawake  na katiba wataka wahariri kuandika habari za jinsia

Na Deogratius Temba

MTANDAO wa wanawake na katiba umewataka wahariri wa vyombo vya habari nchini kuthamini habari za kijinsia wakati huu wa m

Mkurugenzi wa TAMWA akizunguma na wahariri

Wahariri waliofika kusikiliza ujumbe wa wanawake na katiba

Mkurugenzi akiendelea

Wahariri wakifuatilia  kwa umakini

Mjumbe wa Mtandao Dk. Avemaria Semakafu akitoa mada

wahariri wakifuatilia mjadala huo katika ofisi za tamwa Sinza.

chkato wa kuandaa katiba ili kuhakikisha masuala ya jinsia yanapewa kipaumbele katika mijadala mbalimbali na kuingizwa kwenye katiba mpya.

Akizungumza wakati wa mkutano na wahariri mbalimbali kutoka vyombo vya habari hapa nchini na vya kimataifa, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Chama cha Waandishi wa habari wanawake (TAMWA), Valeria Musyoka mwishoni mwa wiki alisema kuwa  Mtandao wa wanawake na katiba umeweka mkakati wa kukutana na wanahabari hasa wahariri ili kujenga nguvu ya pamoja katika kuibua mijadala na kuhakikisha jamii inaelewa maanaa halisi ya dhana ya jinsia na kuipigania ili iweze kuingizwa kwenye katiba mpya.

Alisema kuwa masuala makuu ambayo asasi zinazounda umoja wa wanawake na katiba zinazoyapigania ni pamoja na haki ya kulindwa na kuthaminiwa, Kupata elimu na Haki ya kushiriki katika ngazi za maamuzi.

Aidha alisema kuwa  hayo yote hatyawezi kufikiwa kama huduma za kijamii hazitaboreshwa na kuwepo kwa mgawantyo sawa wa rasilimali ili kuyapa makundi yote hasa wanawake fursa ya kunuifaika na kufikia uasawa wa kijinsia.

“Kumekua na upungufu wa mabweni kwa watoto wa kike unaochangia kuacha shule kwa sababu ya mimba” alisema

Alisema kuwa jinsi ambavyo watunga sera na jamii inavyoelewa jambo na kuamua kuchukua hatua ni kutokana na habari au taarifa wanazozipokea ambazo ndizo zitakazochochea mjadala katika jamii na

kuhamasisha kuungwa mkono au kupingwa kwa hali iliyopo pamoja na sera zilizopo.

Hivyo vyombo vya habari, kama msingi wa kupatikana kwa taarifa yoyote, na kuongoza katika ushawishi vina sehemu muhimu sana katika kuongoza kuleta mabadiliko yawe ya sera, tabia au utamaduni.

Kwa upande wake mjumbe wa Mtandao huo, Dk. Avemaria Semakafu, alisema kuwa wahariri wanajukumu kubwa la kuhakikisha wanasoma kwanza rasimu ya pili waielewe na kupitia taarifa mbalimbali zaini ili kujenga uelewa juu ya kitu kinachotakiwa kwenye mchakato huu wa katiba.

Aliwaasa wahariri kuweka mkazo kwenye habari za kijamii hasa uchunguzi  wa kihabari ili kubaini channzo cha uhaba wa huduma za kijamii katika maeneo mbalimbali.

Mtandao wa Wanawake na Katiba ni muunganiko wa asasi za kijamii na kitaaluma zipatazo hamsini zilizoungana kudai katiba inayozingatia masuala ya kijinsia na inayotokana na mchakato ulioshirikisha sauti za makundi yote.

Tunataka katiba yenye mrengo wa Kijinsia-wanaharakati

 

 mtoa mada mwanachama wa TGNP Aseny Muro akizungumza kwenye GDSS juzi

wanawake kutoka ngazi ya jamii wakifuatilia kwa umakini rasimu ya katiba

Mjadala ukiendelea GDSS

WANAHARAKATI wa masuala ya haki za binadamu, usawa wa kijinsia  wamelitaka Bunge maalum la katiba kujadili  kwa makini vifungu vya rasimu ya pili ya Katiba ili kuhakikisha inabeba masuala ya jinsia hasa kutambua usawa wa jinisia katika nyanja zote.

Akizungumza wakati wa mjada wa wazi  kuhusu “Kwa nini misingi ya usawa wa jinsia ilindwe katika katiba mpya” mwanachama mwanzilishi wa TGNP Mtandao Aseny Muro, alisema kuwa Wabunge wa Bunge maalum la katiba wanapaswa kutumia muda vizuri kujadili kwa undani na utulivu kifungu kwa kifungu na kuhakikisha katiba mpya inakuwa ya mrengo wa kijinsia.

“kwanza tunawataka kulinda vifungu vyote vya kijinsia ambavyo vimeingizwa kwenye rasimu hii hii pia tunawataka kubeba masuala ya msingi ya kijinsia hasa katika eneo la tunu za taifa,  ibara ya tano imezungumza juu ya Tunu, wahakikishe suala la usawa wa kijinsia liwe ni moja ya tunu za taifa”alisema Muro

Muro alisema kuwa usawa unaozungumzwa sio  mapinduzi ya wanawake dhidi ya wanaume bali ni kudai kuwepo kwa dhana ya usawa wa kijinsia katika mgawanyo wa rasilimali zote, ajira, elimu, na rasilimali za taifa kwa makundi yote yaani wanaume na wanawake walio pembezoni ambao hawapati nafasi au fursa ya kufikia hayo.

Akizungumza katika mjadala huo  uliohudhuriwa na wananchi kutoka maeneo mbalimbali ya jiji la Dar es salaam,  Kaimu Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa TGNP Mtandao, Lilian Liundi alisema  lolote ambalo linataka kuendelea ni lazima litambue  maendeleo ya watu wote au makundi yote wanawake na wanaume bila kujali uwezo, hali na nafasi zao.

“taifa huru linaloendelea  linatakiwa kuwa linajali  na kutambua  maendeleo ya wanawake ambao ndio wazalishaji wakubwa.  Na hili litafanikiwa kama suala la usawa wa jinsia litaingizwa kwenye katiba mpya”alisema Liundi

Mwisho