By ADAM LUSEKELO, 4th December 2010 @ 16:00, Total Comments: 4, Hits: 4661
MAYBE she was being starry eyed after being sworn-in as a new Cabinet officer in the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs last week.
The brand new minister, Celina Kombani, rejected the need to overhaul the Tanzanian constitution branding the call for it ‘pedestrian.’ Privately, I doubt if she lives in such a cloud-cuckoo land not knowing the overwhelming call for a new constitution.
I gather she said that such talk is ‘pedestrian’ which I wonder if the reporter wanted to equate with the Kiswahili - maneno ya mtaani. “Let them come with something concrete in writing, showing which sections (of the constitution) have problems, why and suggest the alternative.
The government should not be forced to respond to these sensitive issues through reading newspapers.” Do I detect a tinge of pooh-poohinh of newspapers and the media in Aunt Celina’s dismissal? Because I suspect that Her Ladyship is implying that what is read in the papers ought not to be trusted or taken into serious consideration.
Only those words uttered in official circles are ‘serious’ while the rest of us are bullshitting! Only they can think and have the monopoly of brains. If there was no need for constitutional review and reform, why did the Prez, Jack Mrisho, himself think that the heavyweight issue merited a whole ministry? He should have made her a minister for something else.
Strange, for, at the same time the opposition MP for Wawi, Hamad Rashid Mohammed of the Civic United Front (CUF), has cautioned against the now tired tactic of government pussy-footing to escape from responsibility.
Mr Hamad said that his party has filed more than three letters to the Government calling for talks over the need for constitutional changes but nothing has been done. “Who does not know the long cry of having a new constitution, we wrote a letter to President Kikwete when he took over the office in 2005.
And likewise to former President Benjamin Mkapa but nothing has been done.” He said that during the ninth parliament he prepared a private motion but was not given chance either. Academics, politicians and the public at large have been clamouring and calling for a review of constitution and everyone knows that -- except Aunt Celina.
She thinks all that is ‘pedestrian.’ Which makes one wonder -- was there a need for a whole Ministry of Constitutional Affairs? If so -- then what is her job description then? Maybe to tell Tanzanians that there is no need for a new constitution. So we ot ourselves a brand new Ministry of Constitution Affairs to tell us that we don’t need a new constitution! No wonder we have a bloated Cabinet.
I hear that the minister cautioned that if not handled properly, it could plunge the nation into serious problems. Indeed. Dismissal and pooh-poohing of such matters of national importance as ‘pedestrian’ does not bode well for Bongo. Or, maybe Aunt Kombani was a bit excited and thinking loudly.
The minister further claimed that the craving for a full review of the constitution was not in the interest of citizens and the government. It reminds me of statements I used to read during the cold ideological wars between eastern European and capitalist countries, of the 50s and 60s. Then you got those statements from the Ministry of Interior.
Today, I would wish that politicians should check their gearing systems before engaging their mouths. The demand for a new constitution is real. It should not, at any moment, be treated as a gift from politicians to the people of Bongo who voted for them in the first place!
alusekelo@gmail.com adamlusekelo.blogspot.co
Total Comments on the above stories (4)
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Adam!
Just because CCM has won election does not mean that, they can act the way they want! No thousands time No! Last week The minister of foreign affairs expressed his disapproval over how Israel maintain its security to its citizens and oppenly sided with palestina to condemn Israel! This time mam Kombani is Ignoring the public outcry, to have our age long constitution reshaped. Them ministers are absolutely running this copuntry according communism doctrines that always never work on public interests.As bad as its seems, them ministers have no ideas, what tanzanians needs and what should be done to even up ever increasing anger over ministries' inefficiences. Constitutional change is vital and people won't back down over their demand no matter how countless nights we gonna stay up! We don't need two attoney, two prime ministers, two vice presidents, two regislative councils,and two presidents in union government. Is that fairs all zanzibaris are Tanzanians but Tanganyikan are not zanzibaris, why? The unification of 55 united ststes of America has resulted in having one president, one vice president, one attoney general, one legislative and one national anthem but when it come to the unification of two countries, Zanzibar and Tanganyika, do the maths how many leadrs to we have?
Good job, Adam you have awakened millions of sleeping citizens!
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Tanzania now needs a new constitution like Kenya.The one we have today has become obsolete.Let's clamor for it as soon as possible.
God bless TANZANIA.
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I think a major cabinet re organization is long overdue because this woman is clueless, misplaced and lost. If merit is anything to go by in placing ministers, then the former minister should have remained or even people like Sita or Mwakyembe would have saved us better.
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we must have a new constitution by any means
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