Tanzanians are going to vote on a new constitution in a referendum on April 30. The proposal seems good on paper, but the opposition walked out of a Constituent Assembly because it did not include reforms limiting presidential powers and establishment of a federal system of government.
They are also dissatisfied that an independent electoral commission will not be in place
before the referendum.
The four leading opposition parties have united in an alliance and have a chance to oust CCM, that has ruled Tanzania since independence (using different names before 1975) in the parliamentary election in October. The opposition and delegates from civil society have formed the Coalition of Defenders of the People's Constitution, or Umoja wa Katiba ya Wananchi (Ukawa). But I doubt they can block the governments constitutional proposal from getting approved.
The draft include the following changes:
- Creation of an Independent Electoral Commission
- Allowing presidential election results to be legally challenged
- Limiting the number of ministers a president can appoint
- A requirement for a 50/50 split of men and women in the National Assembly
- Ensuring equal land ownership rights for women
The second and third changes are opposition proposals.
Wiki: Tanzanian constitutional referendum
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