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- Apr 27, 2012
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President Jakaya Kikwete speaks to Tanzania Centre for Democracy (TCD) members, who comprise political party leaders, at State House in Dodoma yesterday.
Finally, members of Tanzania Centre for Democracy (TCD) comprising all political party leaders met President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday here where they discussed two crucial political issues – standoff in constitution making process and the forthcoming General Election. They failed to reach consensus.
He met with the party leaders for the three good hours at the State House in Kilimani area – the historical place where tough decisions are normally taken.
It took place from 12.30 to 15.30 hours, but only ended up by resolving that the two sides-the ruling CCM and the opposition parties keep on thinking about the matters and meet again on September 8, in the nation's designated capital.
"We met the President and discussed two main issues, the deadlocked constitution making process and the 2015 General Election. But we agreed that we meet again on September 8, this year after we all had given those matters a deeper though," TCD chairman, John Cheyo, told reporters without shedding more light.
Early last month, members of the Coalition of Defenders of the People's Constitution (Ukawa) who form the opposition part of TCD, threatened to conduct countrywide demonstrations should Kikwete refuse to suspend the ongoing constitutional review process claiming it was a one side show.
Ukawa had also agreed that in the coming General Election scheduled for October next year, the winner of the Presidential post should garner at least 51 per cent or more of the total votes cast as provided in the present constitution. Should there be any disputes as to the results, then such discrepancies should be pursued in the court of law and not on the streets, they averred.
Soon after the meeting with the President, neither of the party leaders was willing to brief journalists who had gathered outside the meeting room on what had transpired in their talks.
TCD members were seen heading for another meeting of their own without the President.
"I am not in a position to speak to the media as this is not a meeting by members of the Coalition of People's Constitution (Ukawa) but rather one by the Tanzania Centre for Democracy," said Prof Ibrahim Lipumba while heading to the other meet – for TCD leaders only.
TCD is composed of all political parties with representation in Parliament.
After the TCD meeting that lasted for an hour, it's when its chairman, John Cheyo, spoke to journalists on what transpired in the two meetings.
"As TCD, we have formed a sub committed to look into the matters in details so that when we meet the President again on September 8, we should be in a position to make our stand on the material day," noted Cheyo, who did not even disclose the members of the subcommittee.
Opposition party leaders in TCD arrived on a private jet in Dodoma at around 10.15 hours and headed straight to meet their CCM counterparts, before they later went to meet the head of State.
Around 20 political leaders attended the meeting. Besides President Kikwete, they included TCD chairman Johy Cheyo, Chadema secretary general Dr Wilbrod Slaa, CCM vice chairman (Mainland) Philip Mangula, CCM secretary general Abdulrahman Kinana and TLP national chairman Augustine Lyatonga Mrema.
Others were NCCR national chairman James Mbatia, CUF national chairman Prof Ibrahim Lipumba, Chadema's Tundu Lissu and many others.
Ukawa member walked out of the Constituent Assembly in mid April this year claiming that they were not satisfied with the manner in which they were handled in the CA. They have since then, refused to go back.
Source:The Guardian
