Let youths run for presidency, say MPs

[nngu007]

Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi
​

Some young legislators on Wednesday called for review of the current minimum age of presidential aspirants from 40 to 30 years to enable many youth to run for the top government post.


The MPs made the remarks while debating a resolution to ratify the African Youth Charter of 2006 moved in the National Assembly by the Minister of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi.

"We have a lot to offer if we are given opportunities. It is high time the age limit for presidential aspirants is reduced to at least 30 years, and we will prove that we can make it," Mr David Silinde (Mbozi West-CHADEMA) said while contributing to the motion.

Article 39(b) provides that: "A person shall not be entitled to be elected to hold the post of the president of the United Republic of Tanzania save only if … has attained the age of forty years." He was of a view that the age limit bars youth from vying for the country's top job since those below that age are considered unskilled to run the country.

His sentiments were echoed by Mr Felix Mkosamali (Muhambwe, NCCR-Mageuzi), who cited the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere who at the age of 31 in 1953 was elected the President of Tanganyika African Association (TAA). TAA was later in 1954 transformed into Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) and led Tanzania Mainland to independence from Britain in 1961.

"The Pan African Movement during the colonial era was also championed by the youth and they were successful," said the lawmaker. The MP also complained that there were a lot of competent youths in the country eligible to assume top positions in parastatals and other public offices but they were not getting the opportunity.

On the other hand, almost all MPs who made contributions during the debate which was mostly dominated by young legislators, expressed concern over the government's delay to present the resolution before the House. Mr Nyambari Chacha Nyangwine (Tarime -CCM) hailed the Charter, saying it will go a long way in solving problems that the youth were facing.

"However, what is written in the Charter should be implemented on the ground to make it meaningful. We should also shun using young people for personal political ambitions," Mr Nyangwine said. Ms Halima Mdee (Kawe-CHADEMA) called for the establishment of a Youth Council that will coordinate youth countrywide.

"Most of the young people today are not coordinated because they don't have an independent body. Most of them are just members of youth wings of various political parties, we have been calling for the youth council since 1996," said the MP. Ms Ester Bulaya (Special Seats-CCM) said the youth face a number of challenges including unemployment, drug abuse, low levels of education among others and called for swift action to address them.

Moving the resolution, Dr Nchimbi said the Charter will enable youths in the country to intermingle in a formal way with their counterparts on the continent. The Charter is a brainchild of African Union (AU) as member countries strive to improve the welfare of youth on the continent which face many challenges notably poverty, unemployment and disease.

Presenting views of the parliamentary Community Development Committee, its Chairperson, Ms Jenista Mhagama (Peramiho-CCM), said her committee had approved with reservation a clause in the charter which stipulates that girls who are married or impregnated while schooling can resume studies after delivery.

"This is because our laws do not allow such students to resume studies. But the committee is of a view that it is high time the government addressed the issue," she said.

By ALVAR MWAKYUSA, Tanzania Daily News

 

[nngu007]

Yes, Thanks MP's with Brains...

Nyerere took over the Presidency of this young Nation @ the Age of 35 and we did not have any African Nationalistic Corporations nor Economies Nor Political Organization Nor Educational Systems him and his people of young Politicians some with great view and stability but no higher Education such as Mzee Rashid Kawawa they run this country they never think about their own and feed themselves to rich their own rather than change this Nation to be a real an Independent African State rather than being a puppet Nation like some African Independent African nations which now they do have problems

Yes... We can do better with Young President...

 

[Uwezo Tunao]

URAIS KWA KUFUNUANA NGUO ILI KUONA JINSIA ZETU AU KUTAMBU YUPI ALIZALIWA KWA UCHACHE ZAIDI WA MIAKA YOTE NI UFEDHULI MTUPU - TUSHUGHULIKIE MIFUMO SI JINSIA WALA UMRI!!

Purely Nonsense, si umri mdogo ndio unaoleta tija katika urai bali ni sera sahihi na mfumo ambao ni people-centred.

Msingi wangu wa kukataa hoja hii inatokana na ukweli uliothibitika wazi kabisa hapa hapa nchini kwamba KATIKA ORODHA YA MARAIS 4 WALIOPATA KUIONGOZA NCHI YETU, Rais Kikwete ndiye yule mwenye umri mdogo zaidi kama kijana mnayemzungumza humu lakini mpaka hivi sasa wala si siri tena kwamba ndiye Rais aliyefanya mambo ya hovyo kabisa kuliko rais yeyote katika uongozi wa nchi hii.

Nasema hivi vigezo vya kutama hata kufunua watu nguo zao ili kujua wamebarikiwa JINSIA GANI au kuanza kufikiri kama ajuza eti nani alizaliwa KWA UCHACHE ZAIDI WA MIAKA hivyo kustahili kutengewa nafasi kuwa rais wa nchi ni ujinga usiokua na mfaano wake popote duniani.

Sote tunajua jinsi CCM ilivyobanwa katika SHOPPING ADVENTURE yake kujiokolea sura kutafuta watoke vipi 2015 lakini yote haya ni kazi ya kutwanga maji kwenye kinu.

We are done with CCM once and for all; go to hell with these schools of thinking frontiers!!!!

 

[MwanaFalsafa1]

Tatizo si umri. Tatizo ni watu ambao ni presidential material. Tunaweza kushusha umri wa kugombea uraisi hata mpaka miaka 25 lakini kama hawapo watu wa maana haisaidii kitu. Hii hoja sioni iko based sana katika kupata viongozi wanaofaa bali watu fulani fulani ambao wanaona kusubiria mpaka miaka 40 ni mbali mno.

Ila pia tuwe realistic. Watu wangapi chini ya miaka 40 watakua wamejijenga vya kutosha kugombea uraisi? Kwa mfano Marekani mtu anaruhusiwa kugombea uraisi kuanzia miaka 35 lakini raisi mdogo kuwahi kuchaguliwa alikua na umri wa miaka 41 na hii ni nchi ambayo ishatoa maraisi 44. Kwa hiyo umri wa miaka 40 siyo mbaya ila hata tukiamua kushusha mpaka 30 si mbaya lakini nawa hakikishia hakuta toka maraisi wengi chini ya miaka 40.

 

[FJM]

Kwani tatizo ni mvinyo au chupa?

 

[Uwezo Tunao]

Wewe mwandishi uliyeandika habari hii hata kama ndio kuripoti huko wewe mwenyewe haukua hata na kitu cha kuongezea kutoka kwako hata kuguna tu juu ya haya mawazo ya kiayawani?

Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi
​

Some young legislators on Wednesday called for review of the current minimum age of presidential aspirants from 40 to 30 years to enable many youth to run for the top government post.


The MPs made the remarks while debating a resolution to ratify the African Youth Charter of 2006 moved in the National Assembly by the Minister of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi.

"We have a lot to offer if we are given opportunities. It is high time the age limit for presidential aspirants is reduced to at least 30 years, and we will prove that we can make it," Mr David Silinde (Mbozi West-CHADEMA) said while contributing to the motion.

Article 39(b) provides that: "A person shall not be entitled to be elected to hold the post of the president of the United Republic of Tanzania save only if … has attained the age of forty years." He was of a view that the age limit bars youth from vying for the country's top job since those below that age are considered unskilled to run the country.

His sentiments were echoed by Mr Felix Mkosamali (Muhambwe, NCCR-Mageuzi), who cited the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere who at the age of 31 in 1953 was elected the President of Tanganyika African Association (TAA). TAA was later in 1954 transformed into Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) and led Tanzania Mainland to independence from Britain in 1961.

"The Pan African Movement during the colonial era was also championed by the youth and they were successful," said the lawmaker. The MP also complained that there were a lot of competent youths in the country eligible to assume top positions in parastatals and other public offices but they were not getting the opportunity.

On the other hand, almost all MPs who made contributions during the debate which was mostly dominated by young legislators, expressed concern over the government's delay to present the resolution before the House. Mr Nyambari Chacha Nyangwine (Tarime -CCM) hailed the Charter, saying it will go a long way in solving problems that the youth were facing.

"However, what is written in the Charter should be implemented on the ground to make it meaningful. We should also shun using young people for personal political ambitions," Mr Nyangwine said. Ms Halima Mdee (Kawe-CHADEMA) called for the establishment of a Youth Council that will coordinate youth countrywide.

"Most of the young people today are not coordinated because they don't have an independent body. Most of them are just members of youth wings of various political parties, we have been calling for the youth council since 1996," said the MP. Ms Ester Bulaya (Special Seats-CCM) said the youth face a number of challenges including unemployment, drug abuse, low levels of education among others and called for swift action to address them.

Moving the resolution, Dr Nchimbi said the Charter will enable youths in the country to intermingle in a formal way with their counterparts on the continent. The Charter is a brainchild of African Union (AU) as member countries strive to improve the welfare of youth on the continent which face many challenges notably poverty, unemployment and disease.

Presenting views of the parliamentary Community Development Committee, its Chairperson, Ms Jenista Mhagama (Peramiho-CCM), said her committee had approved with reservation a clause in the charter which stipulates that girls who are married or impregnated while schooling can resume studies after delivery.

"This is because our laws do not allow such students to resume studies. But the committee is of a view that it is high time the government addressed the issue," she said.