[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]President Jakaya Kikwete said yesterday Tanzania needed a new constitution to march with the country's 50 years of nationhood.[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]In his end-of-the year address to the nation, Kikwete said: "We, in the government, have agreed to lead the process for the constitution review in order to come up with a document that accommodates the current dynamics and developments."[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]He said in fast-tracking the process he had formed a special Constitutional Review Commission. He said the body, which is led by the Attorney General, comprises members from different groups from both sides of the union - Zanzibar and Mainland.[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]According to the president, the commission has been tasked to oversee the constitutional review processes by collecting views of social groups, political parties, business people, civil societies, religious organizations and experts.[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]After collecting stakeholders' inputs, he said, the commission will give its recommendations which will be forwarded to the relevant organs for decision-making. [/FONT]
"[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]After these processes, the nation will have a new constitution," he noted, adding: "We want to have constitution that matches with the 50-years-old nation (Tanzania)." [/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]This year, Tanzania will mark 50 years of Tanganyika's independence, 47 years of the Zanzibar Revolution and 47 years of the Union.[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]Kikwete, however, defended the current constitution engineered by the founders of the nation saying it moved the country from the post-independence period to "where we are now."[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]The existing constitution, he said, contributed to the country's social, political and economic development.[/FONT]
"[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]But there are many changes that have occurred between the post-independence days and today, which require a constitution that accommodates all current developments and changes," said the president.[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]The President's stance on the constitution has come at a time when the country was engulfed in heated debate over whether it should have a new constitution or not.[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]Attorney General Frederick Werema's recent remarks that the country did not need a new constitution have been received with mixed feelings with a section of the public accusing him of trying to strangle debate on the issue.[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]At one time, Constitutional Affairs and Justice Minister, Celina Kombani, played down public demand for new constitution on the simple reasons that "the process is unnecessarily expensive.[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]Kombani's provoked heated public debates, with some people calling for resignation of the constitutional affairs' minister, accusing her of undermining concerns of Tanzanians for constitutional reforms. [/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda recently in a meeting with editors, promised to advise the president on the need to have new constitution.[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]Dwelling on the country's security, President Kikwete said the situation was stable with all borders safe and secure and that there was no threat from any place or people regarding the security of the country.[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]On democracy, President Kikwete said it has grown tremendously, admitting that opposition parties were becoming stronger and therefore posing a challenge to the ruling party.[/FONT]
"[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]Last year's general election posed great challenge and the power of opposition parties has increased tremendously," admitted the president. [/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]On the management of public funds, Kikwete said he had directed concerned authorities to ensure they supervise revenue collection and expenditure of public funds more efficiently.[/FONT]
"[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]I am not satisfied with the use of public funds. The discipline in this is still wanting," he commented.[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]On the economy he said the country expected the economy to grow by up to 7.2 per cent compared to 6 per cent of 2009.[/FONT]
[FONT=ArialMT, sans-serif]He said inflation has also gone down from 12.1 per cent in 2009 to 5.5 per cent 2010 and it was expected that it would continue to go down.[/FONT]