Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)

Tanzania: Opposition Wants Fixed Number of Ministries

By Rose Athumani, 9 January 2013

THREE opposition parties have recommended that the new constitution should stipulate a specific number of ministries that the government should have.

It was also suggested that the new constitution should come up with a national council for religions, whose tasks will include solving religious conflicts, as opposed to now where there is no specific body to handle such matters.

The three parties, the National League for Democracy (NLD), Chama Cha Kijamii (CCK) and Alliance for Tanzania Farmers Party (AFP) noted that with a specific number of ministries, presidents will not be able to form new ministries at will.

Although he did not suggest a figure, the NLD Chairman Dr Emmanuel Makaidi said the new constitution should clearly state how many ministries there should be to avoid increasing government expenditure when expanding ministries.

He expressed concern whether the new constitution will make any different from the old one, since some of the commissioners in the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) were among those who prepared the current constitution. "It will not be a new constitution but an improved one, because some of the commissioners that participated in formulating the current constitution which has been described as bad, are also in the current commission," he noted.

The party also suggested that the new constitution should state or come up with decisive factors on how Members of Parliament and councillors should be removed from their posts when they fail to fulfil their duties.

CCK Chairman, Mr Constantine Akitanda said that since there have been many complaints against the Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar; the new constitution should allow the public to decide on the issue through referendum.

Mr Akitanda also noted that the new constitution should institute a bicameral legislature with two chambers, noting that currently there is no authority that controls parliament.

"With an upper house and a lower house, all decisions sifted through before they are implemented, to avoid shortcomings such as the issue of workers and pension funds," he explained.

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  • Francine
    Jan 9 2013, 10:29
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    I. Number of ministries is function of management. Different manager different ministry structure. Depends on time and circumstances. The manager, that is the president must determine the number. The parliament can always refuse to pass extravagance. That is what they are paid for. 2. If you have another upper house who will watch the watchers? You can control extravagant by targeting inflation and the citizens to know if you elect bad eggs it will inevitably stink. 3. Either Zanzibar agrees to be a region just like any mkoa and have same representation OR be allowed to get out of the United Republic. The mainland should have an option to vote out Zanzibar. It is using up valuable Republic's management time always complaints. And too many religious conflicts. 4. No religious councils organized by government. The Tanzanian government and state has no religion, full stop.