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Opposition faults CCM stance on MPs` tenure
By The guardian team
19th February 2010
Chadema Secretary General Dr Wilbrod Slaa.
Opposition parties have challenged the decision by CCM's National Executive Committee to limit the tenure of Special Seats legislators to two terms, saying it would limit the number of women taking part in politics.
Interviewed opposition leaders said yesterday that the ruling party should implement the African Union goal of achieving parity between women and men in decision-making organs by 2020.
Already organizations such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have made it clear that women participation should be 50 per cent in all member countries by 2015.
Chadema Secretary General Dr Wilbrod Slaa said that CCM should not act as if it owned the country's title deed, adding that it should involve the citizenry in passing such key decisions.
"The ruling party's decision does not mean that the decision is for all Tanzanians because not all the people were involved in passing it," Dr Slaa said.
He proposed a national dialogue to collect public views on the matter.
For his part, NCCR-Mageuzi national Chairman James Mbatia said that CCM had failed to lead the country and instead it was pushing issues instead of using democratic means to implement them.
He said women had been discriminated because of poor governance of the ruling party, adding that the move would result in the lowering of women participation in politics.
"There is no need for Special Seats MPs to serve two terms only. CCM should respect the Political Parties Act of 1992," Mbatia noted.
"It has been common for the nation to use women for testing any decision, especially when they want to make serious decisions," he added.
He said it was wrong to think that women were favoured for being given such posts, but the fact was that they deserved them because they were also elected from political parties.
CUF Deputy Secretary General for the Mainland Joram Bashange said the SADC decision had to be respected, adding that the system where the winner takes all must be discouraged because it was not good for the country.
Tanzania Labour Party National Chairman Augustine Mrema had a different view, commending the decision by the ruling party saying that it would allow more women to take part in elective politics. "This is the national cake and it should be shared by all…the decision by NEC is good because it provide opportunity for more women to actively participate in politics," Mrema said.
He said he had no doubt that the number of women in politics would be affected since experienced Special Seats MPs would now contest in constituencies, leaving their vacant seats to be filled by younger people.
In its just-ended meeting in Dodoma, NEC made a recommendation that Special Seats MPs should now serve only for two terms in the National Assembly.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
By The guardian team
19th February 2010
Chadema Secretary General Dr Wilbrod Slaa.
Opposition parties have challenged the decision by CCM's National Executive Committee to limit the tenure of Special Seats legislators to two terms, saying it would limit the number of women taking part in politics.
Interviewed opposition leaders said yesterday that the ruling party should implement the African Union goal of achieving parity between women and men in decision-making organs by 2020.
Already organizations such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have made it clear that women participation should be 50 per cent in all member countries by 2015.
Chadema Secretary General Dr Wilbrod Slaa said that CCM should not act as if it owned the country's title deed, adding that it should involve the citizenry in passing such key decisions.
"The ruling party's decision does not mean that the decision is for all Tanzanians because not all the people were involved in passing it," Dr Slaa said.
He proposed a national dialogue to collect public views on the matter.
For his part, NCCR-Mageuzi national Chairman James Mbatia said that CCM had failed to lead the country and instead it was pushing issues instead of using democratic means to implement them.
He said women had been discriminated because of poor governance of the ruling party, adding that the move would result in the lowering of women participation in politics.
"There is no need for Special Seats MPs to serve two terms only. CCM should respect the Political Parties Act of 1992," Mbatia noted.
"It has been common for the nation to use women for testing any decision, especially when they want to make serious decisions," he added.
He said it was wrong to think that women were favoured for being given such posts, but the fact was that they deserved them because they were also elected from political parties.
CUF Deputy Secretary General for the Mainland Joram Bashange said the SADC decision had to be respected, adding that the system where the winner takes all must be discouraged because it was not good for the country.
Tanzania Labour Party National Chairman Augustine Mrema had a different view, commending the decision by the ruling party saying that it would allow more women to take part in elective politics. "This is the national cake and it should be shared by all…the decision by NEC is good because it provide opportunity for more women to actively participate in politics," Mrema said.
He said he had no doubt that the number of women in politics would be affected since experienced Special Seats MPs would now contest in constituencies, leaving their vacant seats to be filled by younger people.
In its just-ended meeting in Dodoma, NEC made a recommendation that Special Seats MPs should now serve only for two terms in the National Assembly.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
