Ndugu Watanzania Wenzangu. Katika masuala ya OIC na Kadhi, ni maoni yangu kwamba hatupaswi hua na jazba sana katika masuala haya wakati sasa kuna mchakato wa kutoa maoni juu ya katiba. Kwa sababu hili ni jambo a wengi, tuwe tayari kupokea matokeao yatakayokuja. Kenya, walipata changamoto kubwa kwenye Masuala ya KADHI wakati wa mchakato wa katiba mpya, lakini walifanikiwa kuvuka kikwazo hicho. Hua tunakosea tukiwa tunataka kulinganisha kila kitu kati ya Ukristo na Uislam, kwa sababu hizi dini mbili zina historia tofauti, zina taasisi tofauti, kutokana na matakwa tofauti. Hivyo basi, Si sahihi kwa Waislam kudai kitu fulani kwa sababu Wakristo, and in this case, haswa Wakatoliki wanacho. Lakini vile vile, Si sahihi kwa Wakristo kukataa waislamu wasiwe na kitu fulani eti kwa sababu wao (hawana).
MJADALA WA KADHI
Ni vema kuelewa tofauti kati ya:
(3) Principal of Islamic Law as Applied in Tanzania according to the Judicature and Application of Laws Act of Tanzania [Cap 358 Revised Edition of 2002] na The Magistrates Courts Act [Cap 11 Revised Edition 2002]
(2) Canon Law, as a legal system;
(1) Sharia Law, as a legal system; na
Vile vile, Uelewa wa Sheria ya Ndoa ya Tanzania (The Law of Marriage Act of Tanzania ( [Cap 49 Revised Edition of 2002]
The Judicature and Application of Laws Act of Tanzania
Sheria hii liliingia rasmi Tanzania kupitia utawala wa Kiingereza tarehe 1 December, 1920. Madhumuni makubwa ya sheria hii yalikua ni, pamoja na mengineyo, kuainisha ni sheria zipi zitatumika katika mahakama za Tanzania. Section 11 ya Sheria hii, ambayo inatumika mpaka leo, iliruhusu, ukiachana na sheria za bunge, matumizi ya Sheria za Kiingereza (yani Common Law, Doctrine of Equity and Statutory of General Application) zilizokua zinatumika uingereza kabla ya tarehe 22 July 1920, Sheria za Kimila, pamoja na Baadhi ya Taratibu za Kiislam katika masuala Binafsi (Principles of Islamic Laws). Nitanukuu vifungu husika:
Section 2 (1) ......
(2) .....
(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the jurisdiction of the High Court shall be exercised in conformity with the written laws which are in force in Tanzania on the date on which this Act comes into operation (including the laws applied by this Act) or which may hereafter be applied or enacted and, subject thereto and so far as the same shall not extend or apply, shall be exercised in conformity with the substance of the common law, the doctrines of equity and the statutes of general application in force in England on the twenty-second day of July, 1920, and with the powers vested in and according to the procedure and practice observed by and before Courts of Justice and justices of the Peace in England according to their respective jurisdictions and authorities at that date, save in so far as the said common law, doctrines of equity and statutes of general application and the said powers, procedure and practice may, at any time before the date on which this Act comes into operation, have been modified, amended or replaced by other provision in lieu thereof by or under the authority of any Order of Her Majesty in Council, or by any Proclamation issued, or any Act or Acts passed in and for Tanzania, or may hereafter be modified, amended or replaced by other provision in lieu thereof by or under any such Act or Acts of the Parliament of Tanzania:
Provided always that the said common law, doctrines of equity and statutes of general application shall be in force in Tanzania only so far as the circumstances of Tanzania and its inhabitants permit, and subject to such qualifications as local circumstances may render necessary.
Section 11
(1) Customary law shall be applicable to, and courts shall exercise jurisdiction in accordance therewith in, matters of a civil nature–
(a) between members of a community in which rules of customary law relevant to the matter are established and accepted, or between a member of one community and a member of another community if the rules of customary law of both communities make similar provision for the matter;
(b) relating to any matter of status of, or succession to, a person who is or was a member of a community in which rules of customary law relevant to the matter are established and accepted; or
(c) in any other case in which, by reason of the connection of any relevant issue with any customary right or obligation, it is appropriate that the defendant be treated as a member of the community in which such right or obligation obtains and it is fitting and just that the matter be dealt with in accordance with customary law instead of the law that would otherwise be applicable,
except in any case where it is apparent, from the nature of any relevant act or transaction, manner of life or business, that the matter is or was to be regulated otherwise than by customary law:
Provided that–
(i) where, in accordance with paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this subsection customary law is applicable to any matter, it shall not cease to be applicable on account of any act or transaction designed to avoid, for an unjust purpose, the applicability of customary law; and
(ii) nothing in this subsection shall preclude any court from applying the rules of Islamic law in matters of marriage, divorce, guardianship, inheritance, wakf and similar matters in relation to members of a community which follows that law.
Hivyo Basi, the Judicature of Application of Laws Act ilileta nchini Mfumo wa Common Law, ambao ulitokea Uingereza, na si Canon or Sharia Law.
Section 11(1)(c)(ii) inaruhusu matumizi ya taratibu za kiislam katika masuala ya ndoa, talaka, ulezi, mirathi, wakf and na mambo yanayohusiana na hao kwa watu wanaofuata imani ya kiislamu.
Sababu a matumizi ya taratibu hizo ni kwamba mambo haya yako katika mfumo mzima wa ibada wa imani husika, Ifahamike kua Sheria za Uingereza zilizokua zinatumika nchini zina historia ya Zamani sana, na nyingine zina trace history from the Roman Empire. Vile vile, ni vizuri kufahamu kwamba, wakati Uislam unaruhusu Talaka, hali si hiyo kwa
mainstream Christian denominations.
The Magistrates Courts Act
Section 18.
(1) A primary court shall have and exercise jurisdiction–
(a) in all proceedings of a civil nature–
(i) where the law applicable is customary law or Islamic law:
(ii) ….
(iii) ….
(b) in all matrimonial proceedings relating civil and Christian marriages;
(c) ….
(d) ….
Kwa Muujibu wa the Magistrates Court of Tanzania, mahakama za mwanzo zitakua zina mamlaka ya kutumia sheria za kimila au za kiislamu katika masuala ya
madai pale ambapo sheria au taratibu zinazohusika ni za kiislam au za kimila. Mahakama hizo pia zitasikiliza masuala
ya ndoa za Kikristo. Yaelekea watu wakawa wanajiuliza ni kwa nini Mahakama iwe ina mamlaka ya kusikiliza masuala ya ndoa za kikristo wakati Talaka si kitu kinachokubalika (na mainstream denominations). Lakini hili ni kutokana na ukweli kwamba Mahakama inaweza ikaamua kuhusu Separation (Kutengana), suala ambalo linaweza likapelekea amri za mgawanyo wa mali au custody of children, mambo ambayo utekelezaji wake na yenyewe wakati mwingine huhitaji DOLA
Sheria inayoitwa ya "serikali" katika masuala ya Mirathi ni Indian Succession Act.
Je, Principles of Islamic Laws zinazoruhusiwa kutumika katika sheria za Tanzania ni sawa na mfumo wa Sharia au Cannon Law? Jibu ni HAPANA kwa sababu ifuatayo (kwa kifupi sana):
Mosi: Ni kwamba CANON na SHARIA ni mifumo mizima ya sharia, kuanzia kutunga sharia mpaka uendeshaji wa kesi au madai. Mifumo hii yote haitumiki Tanzania, kwa sababu sisi tume adopt a COMMON LAW SYSTEM. Hivyo basi, taratibu za kiislamu katika masuala ya ndoa na mirathi, ni kajisehemu kadogo tu katika mfumo wa SHARIA, na vitatumika so far as haviendani kinyume na Katiba
Pili: Taratibu za kiislam za ndoa na mirathi zimetoka moja kwa moja katika Quran, kitabu ambacho ndio source of all Islamic rituals, wakati CANON LAW inatokana ama na DIVINE LAW (imani) au (mamlaka kutoka ofisi ya Papa ambaye ana mamlaka ya mwisho ya utungaji sharia, utekelazaji na uamuzi) "authority and promulgation from the office of pope, who as Supreme Pontiff possesses the totality of legislative, executive, and judicial power in his person"
Je, mahakama ya kadhi iwemo katika mfumo wa kimahakama, au iwe taasisi inayojitegemea?
Kutokana na utaratibu Mzima wa Kisheria uliopo nchini, ni wazikwamba masuala ya ndoa na mirathi ya Kiislam, yana taratibu tofauti kidogo na madhehebu mengine. Na suala linakua complicated pale wahusika wanapoweka bayana kwamba mfumo huo hau unawakwaza kiimani (Based on assumptions that mtu atakayekwenda mahakamani kudai talaka, wakati taratibu zake za kiimani ZINAKATAZA talaka, atakua ameamua mwenyewe kwenda kinyume na maadii yake)
Suala la mfumo gani Kadhi iuchukue limekua limevuta hisia za watu wengi, wakiwemo viongozi wa dini, waliofikia hatua a kujibizana wao kwa wao (kwa kisingizio cha kuishauri serikali), na kusababisha utata miongoni mwa waumini. Hili jambo binafsi linanikera, kwa sababu mwisho wa siku, Tanzania ni yetu sote. Ni vyema basi kutanguliza busara, kuliko "passion"
(a) Wapo wenye maoni kwamba Kadhi iwe ina mfumo wake wenyewe:
Hoja hii inaonekana ni rahisi kuitekeleza kwa sababu mfumo mzima utakua purely miongoni mwa waumini wenyewe. Tatizo ni kwamba, iwapo mfumo huu utakua purely within a religious institution, itakua ni vigumu kuu monitor ii kuhakikisha kwamba mambo yanayoendeshwa huko hayaendani kinyume na katiba au Sheria za nchi. Nitatoa mfano mdogo:
Kutokana na the Law of Marriage Act of Tanzania, moja ya mambo ambayo huifanya mahakama kuamua kwamba ndoa imevunjika ni:
"cruelty, whether mental or physical, inflicted by the respondent on the petitioner or on the children, if any, of the marriage" (Section107(2)(c))
Kwa kuzingatia kifungu zingatia mfano wa Mwanamke wa Kiislam ambaye anakwenda kwa KADHI ambaye hayuko controlled na mfumo wa sheria za nchi, akilalamika kwamba anataka kuachana na mumewe kwa sababu mumewe anataka kuoa mke wa pili. Kuna uwezekano wa Kadhi huyu kuamua kwamba hakuna haja ya kutoa talaka kwa sababu mume yue ana ruhusiwa kufanya hivyo. (hua kuna mabishano ya kimtazamo on whether mume anapaswa apate ruhusa ya mkewe, au amuarifu tu mkewe). Lakini, Mwanamke huyu wa kiislam, anaweza akaenda mahakamani na kudai talaka kwa sababu ya
mental agony which she cannot bear kutokana na mume wake kuoa mke wa pili. Ni wazi kwamba mahakama inaweza ikampatia ombi hilo. (ni muhimu ku note, nchi kama Bangladesh ambayo almost 90 oth the population are muslims, still sheria iikataza kuoa mke zaidi ya mmoja kama hakuna ruhusa ya mke/wake wa mume husika).
Katika hali hiyo niliyoieleza, ni wazi kwamba iwapo Mahakama itaamua tofauti na KADHI, tayari tutakua tumeleta mkanganyiko kwa sababu, kwa kumfanya kadhi awe independent from the main system of State ajdudication, ingemaanisha kwamba hakuna chombo kingine ambacho kingekua na mamlaka ya kutoa maamuzi ya kupingana naye, unless chombo hicho kiwe kina mamlaka ya rufaa ya maamuzi yake.
Tatizo la pili ni suala zima la utekelezaji wa maamuzi ya chombo husika. Katika hali ya kawaida ya mfumo wa kimahakama, iwapo mtu atasita kutii amri ya mahakama, basi utekelezaji wake hufanywa kwa kutumia vyombo vya dola. Ni dhahiri kwamba litakua jambo la kinyume, kwa chombo cha dola, kama polisi kutumika kutekeleza amri ya chombo cha binafsi. Mapungufu haya mawili, yana weka haja ya kua na mfumo ambao kwa namna moja au nyingine uko linked or controled na State.
Jambo jingine ni kwamba iwapo KADHI huyu atakua independent from the State, itakua ni vigumu ku monitor any extreme paths which he may be taking, suala ambalo linaweza likawa ni chanzo cha mgogoro mwingine mkubwa.
(b)
Wapo wenye maoni kwamba kadhi iwe katika system ya serikali
Wengi wanaosema hivi wanaangalia mfumo uliopo ambao tayari umeyapa umaalum masuala ya ndoa, mirathi na waqf. Hoja yao ni kwamba, ingepaswa mtu wa kuyatatua haya awe ni muelewa mzuri wa taratibu husika, badala ya kutegemea tu mabishano ya pande mbili. Pia wanadai kwamba yapo mambo mengine ya kiimani ambayo yanakwamishwa na mfumo huu wa sasa.
Wanaopinga hoja hii hucite mambo mawili (1) Kwamba Tanzania is a sercular state (nchi isiyofuata mfumo wa dini yoyote) and second (2) KADHI's court itaingilia uhuru wa kuabudu.
Kutokana na Mfumo huu wa Sheria wa Sasa tulionao, ni vigumu kutetea hoja hii kwa sababu ziko nchi zenye katiba ambazo zinaeeza kwamba na zenyewe ni serkular state, lakini zikaruhusu mahakama ya KADHI.
Nitatumia mfano wa Kenya kwa Sababu Mifumo yetu ya Sheria ina historia na taratibu ambazo zinafanana:
Ibara ya 8 ya Katiba hiyo inatamka: "
There shall be no State religion"
Na ibara ya 32 ya Katiba hiyo inatamka:
(1) Every person has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion.
(2) Every person has the right, either individually or in community with others, in public or in private, to manifest any religion or belief through worship, practice, teaching or observance, including observance
of a day of worship.
(3) A person may not be denied access to any institution, employment or facility, or the enjoyment of any right, because of the person's belief or religion.
(4) A person shall not be compelled to act, or engage in any act, that is contrary to the person's belief or religion.
Ujumla wa kimantiki wa ibara ya 8 na ya 32 wa katiba ya Kenya, unafanana na Ibara ya 19 ya Katiba ya
Jamuhuri ya Muungano Wa Tanzania, japo kuna tofauti nitakayoiainisha:
(
2) Bila ya kuathiri sheria zinazohusika za Jamhuri ya Muungano, kazi ya kutangaza dini, kufanya ibada na kueneza dini itakuwa ni huru na jambo la hiari la mtu binafsi; na shughuli na uendeshaji wa jumuiya za dini zitakuwa nje ya shughuli za mamlaka ya nchi.
Maneno
"shughuli na uendeshaji wa jumuiya za dini zitakuwa nje ya shughuli za mamlaka ya nchi." ndiyo yamekua a subject of debate: Nafikiri katika hili, ni vyema kufahamu tofauti kati ya (1) Kutengeneza au ku "facilitate" mazingira ya kuabudu, na (2) Uendeshaji wa Jumuia za Kidini. Katika hali yoyote ile, JUMUIA, si chombo kama KADHI. Jambo hili halijawahi kua a subject of judicial interpretation kwa sababu, iwapo IWAPO mtu angeamua kuleta hoja kwamba KADHI's court ni sehemu ya "freedom of religion", then ingefaa yafanyike maamuzi ya tafsiri ya kisheria kuhusu nini mantiki ya neno JUMUIA kama linavyoainishwa katika ibara ya 19, na tofauti kati ya "kuruhusu au kutengeneza mazingira ya watu kuabudu" on ne hand; na "kuendesha JUMUIA za kidini" on the other hand.
Vile vile, ulizuka mjadala mzito kuhusu
KODI na
MAHAKAMA YA KADHI. Hili lilitokana na hotuba ya Rais Kikwete, na ni kutokana na hotuba Ile, ilionelewa kwamba,
kwa sababu jambo hili linagusa hisia za walipakodi ambao wote si Waisam, basi suala hili waamue na waliendeshe waislam wenyewe (hoja (a) hapo juu)
Nafikiri huu ulikua ni uamuzi mwingine wa
HARAKA katika
SENSITIVE ISSUES. Hili inatokana na ukweli kwamba,
imani yoyote haipaswi kua kishawishi cha matumizi ya kodi ya serikali kwa sababu kwa kufanya hivyo tutafungua mijadala ambayo inaweza ikasababisha matatizo kwa taifa. Ni wazi kwamba yapo matumizi mengi ya serikali ambayo kwa namna moja ama nyingine yanahusisha mambo ambayo ni kinyume na imani zetu sisi Watanzania. Na kwa sababu serikali haiendeshi mambo yake kutokana na dini, si busara kuhusisha kodi na Imani.
PENDEKEZO
(1) Kwa sababu sasa hivi kuna mchakato wa kukusanya maoni ya Katiba, si busara kubishana sana kwa passion kwa madhumuni ya kuazimisha au kupinga mahakama ya KADHI. Hili ni kutokana na ukweli kwamba iwapo kiwango kikubwa kitaonelea kwamba mahakama hiyo iwepo, basi hakutokua na budi kuiingiza katika katiba. Ikumbukwe kwamba, ili kua na mfumo wa vyama vingi, ni asilimia 20 tu ya watu ndio walionelea hivyo.
(2) Marekebisho kidogo katika mfumo wa mahakama yangeweza ku "blend" systems za KADHI na MFUMO WA MAHAKAMA bila kuleta mabishano.
Katika mfumo wa sasa wa kimahakama, mahakama ya mwanzo hukaa na wazee wa baraza, ambao maamuzi yao hua "binding" kwa hakimu. Hivyo basi, ingepitishwa sheria rasmi kwamba "kwa ridhaa ya wadai na wadaiwa", (katika masuala ambayo yanatumia isamic principles, and where both parties are Muslims), wazee wa baraza wawe ni watu ambao wana qualify kuwa KADHI. Hili lingesave masuala ya kiimani, kwa sababu maamuzi ya wazee wa baraza ni binding, halafu pia taratibu nyingine za utekelezaji hukumu kwa sababu hukumui ile ingekua na muhuri wa MAHAKAMA. Marekebisho hayo pia yangefaa yafanyike katika mfumo wa Rufaa, or katika mfumo wa mahakama za mahakimu wakaazi na Mahakama Kuu ambazo kwa sasa hazina ulazima wa kukaa na wazee wa baraza katika masuala ya ndoa. Otherwize, mfumo mwingine wa rufaa ungeangaliwa kutoka KENYA au ZANZIBAR
Kwa mfano, Ibara ya 170 ya Katiba ya Kenya ina tamka:
170.
(1) There shall be a Chief Kadhi and such number, being not fewer than three, of other Kadhis as may be prescribed under an Act of Parliament.
(2) A person shall not be qualified to be appointed to hold or act in the office of Kadhi unless the person-
(a) professes the Muslim religion; and
(b) possesses such knowledge of the Muslim law applicable to any sects of Muslims as qualifies the person, in the opinion of the Judicial Service Commission, to hold a Kadhi's court.
(3) Parliament shall establish Kadhis' courts, each of which shall have the jurisdiction and powers conferred on it by legislation, subject to clause (5).
(4) The Chief Kadhi and the other Kadhis, or the Chief Kadhi and such of the other Kadhis (not being fewer than three in number) as may be prescribed under an Act of Parliament, shall each be empowered to hold a Kadhi's court having jurisdiction within Kenya.
(5) The jurisdiction of a Kadhis' court shall be limited to the determination of questions of Muslim law relating to personal status, marriage, divorce or inheritance in proceedings in which all the parties profess the Muslim religion and submit to the jurisdiction of the Kadhi's courts.
MJADALA WA OIC
Na hili na lenyewe lilizua gumzo kubwa, haswa kutokana na ukweli kwamba wenzetu wa Zanzibar walikua wanalitaka hili. Niweke wazi kwamba Mimi napendelea Muungano wa Tanzania na Zanzibar uendelee kuwepo, kwa sababu katika mazingira ya sasa ya ushindani wa kiuchumi, any piece of land provides more opportunities.
Utata wa Kisheria Uliopo ni kwamba, japokua Zanzibar ina mamlaka yake, katika uhusiano wa kimataifa, Zanzibar sio DOLA. Hii inamaana ya kwamba Zanzibar haina International Capacity in entering into International Treaties. In that case, kwa mkataba wowote wa kimataifa kutumika Zanzibar, ni Lazima usainiwe na Serikali ya Jamuhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania. Hii ni sababu pekee kwa nini Zanzibar sio Mwanachama wa OIC
Pili, hoja ya kwamba Tanzania is a sercuar state, na hivyo isijiunge na OIC na yenyewe imetuletea mijadala mingi ambayo nasikitika kwamba inatugawa Watanzania kutokana na Jazba za kiimani
(See my post on UDINI NA MUSTAKABALI WA TAIFA). Hii ni kutokana na ukweli kwamba wengi wetu tumekua tuna
jazba katika suala hili, bila kuangalia kweli kwamba ziko Nchi nyingi ambazo ni serkular, lakini zimeweza kumanage kua members wa OIC. Nafikiri hapa ni suala la kuangalia ni vipengele gani vya mkataba havitoishurutisha Tanzania kuachana na Taratibu za secularism. Katika kufanya hivyo, ni vema kutafsiti
objectives za OIC ambazo ni kama zifuatazo:
Enhance and consolidate the bonds of fraternity and solidarity among the Member States;
Safeguard and protect the common interests and support the legitimate causes of the Member States and coordinate and unify the efforts of the Member States in view of the challenges faced by the Islamic world in particular and the international community in general;
Respect the right of self-determination and non-interference in the domestic affairs and to respect sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of each Member State;
Ensure active participation of the Member States in the global political, economic and social decision-making processes to secure their common interests;
Reaffirm its support for the rights of peoples as stipulated in the UN Charter and international law;
Strengthen intra-Islamic economic and trade cooperation; in order to achieve economic integration leading to the establishment of an Islamic Common Market;
Exert efforts to achieve sustainable and comprehensive human development and economic well-being in Member States;
Protect and defend the true image of Islam, to combat defamation of Islam and encourage dialogue among civilizations and religions;
Enhance and develop science and technology and encourage research and cooperation among Member States in these fields;
In order to realize these objectives, Member States shall act, inter alia, in accordance with the following principles:
All Member States commit themselves to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter;
Member States are sovereign, independent and equal in rights and obligations;
All Member States shall settle their disputes through peaceful means and refrain from use or threat of use of force in their relations;
All Member States undertake to respect national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of other Member States and shall refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of others;
Member States shall uphold and promote, at the national and international levels, good governance, democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law.
Kutokana na maelezo haya, ni wazi kwamba hakuna haja ya kua na Uoga, iwapo kutakua kuna faida na kujiunga na OIC, haswa kutokana na ukweli kwamba mkataba wa umoja huu umeeleza kuhusu mambo ambayo hapa kwetu, na katika mjadala huu ni muhimi: (1) Kuheshimu haki za nchi wanachama kama zilivyo katika umoja wa Mataifa (2) Kutoingilia maamuzi ya nchi nyingine na (3) Kuendeleza majadiliano/maelewano baina ya waumini wa dini mbali mbali.
Baadhi ya nchi
wanachama wa OIC ambazo hazifuati taratibu za kiislam, na wala si za kiarabu ni Uganda, Cameroon, and Mozambique,
Suriname, na
Guyana.
Mfano mzuri wa ushirikiano wa watu wa Imani tofauti ni nchi za Suriname na Guyana. Kwa mfaono, nchini Suriname, Christians ni wengi zaidi (both in the form of Roman Catholicism and various denominations of Protestantism, the Moravian Church being the oldest and largest), ambapo Waislam ni asilimia 13.5%.
Katika Nchi ya Guyana, Asilimia 57% of the population is Christian, 28% is Hindu, and 7% is Muslim.
Swali kwa Watanzania wenzangu, hivi kweli tumeshindwa kujadiliana na kuafikiana huu ya hili?