By Cosmas Pahalah CCM prepares itself for exit of old Katiba

Former Prime Minister Frederick Sumaye (left) compares notes with CCM National Executive Committee (NEC) member Kingunge Ngombale-Mwiru (middle) in a seminar for the party’s NEC members in Dodoma yesterday. Looking on is CCM trustee Peter Kisumo.. PHOTO | FIDELIS FELIX By The Citizen Reporters Dodoma. The rewrite of Tanzania’s Constitution – Katiba - was among the top agendas that preoccupied the one-day meeting of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) National Executive Committee (NEC) here yesterday. Sources privy to the meeting, which was chaired by national party chairman, President Jakaya Kikwete, said that delegates discussed the need for CCM members to get prepared for changes that were likely to come with the new supreme law whose processing began early this month. Ruling party insiders said CCM members across the country were urged to get prepared “psychologically” for the forthcoming fresh Constitution, which was likely to bring in clauses that might be unpalatable to those who staunchly stuck to long-held traditions of managing the country. The centre of discussions was the looming possibility of the new Katiba allowing an independent presidential candidate, an idea that has frequently been agitated for by sections of the population – mainly activists and certain politicians. The sources said the governing party has formed a committee to coordinate the collection of views from CCM members, which would be presented to the Joseph Warioba commission that has been charged with collecting suggestions from the breadth and length of country, to be considered by experts who will rewrite the Constitution. The introduction of an independent presidential candidate has been opposed by CCM for fear that its visibly powerful members who fail to be picked during preferential polls could opt to stand as independent candidates and win elections. According to sources, the party’s committee to coordinate the collection of views on the constitutional review would be headed by Mr Abdulrahman Kinana. The sources said the committee would also look at the structure of the Union that comprises Mainland Tanzania (Tanganyika) and Zanzibar Isles. All these issues were to be discussed by ruling party’s NEC members last night when the meeting resumed after a late afternoon lunch break. “The issues raised are likely to take centre stage in our discussions,” said one NEC member who preferred to remain anonymous since he was not the party’s official spokesperson. On April 6, President Kikwete formed a 32-member constitutional review commission charged with spearheading the process. The team is led by highly respected, vastly experienced legal professionals – Justices Joseph Warioba as chair, deputised by retired chief justice, Mr Augustino Ramadhani. The team over which the two will superintend will collect views on the outlook of the envisaged new Constitution, as a preamble to seeking the final decision by wananchi through a referendum. Besides holders of the chiefs, 30 other members – divided equally between the two partners of the Union – President Kikwete also appointed two people to head the commission’s secretariat  - Mr Assa Ahmad Rashid (secretary) and Mr Casmir Sumba as his deputy. Their substantive posts are, respectively, permanent secretary in the Zanzibar ministry of Justice, and chief  (Union government) parliamentary draughtsman. On the list (the Mainland) are prominent constitutional law experts – Prof Palamagamba Kabudi who is the dean of the University of Dar es Salaam School of Law and Dr Sengondo Mvungi who is the Vice Chancellor of Bagamoyo University. Others include Professor Mwesiga Baregu, a political science professor at St. Augustine University and veteran politician and Chairman of the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation, Mr Joseph Butiku. The most prominent nominee from Zanzibar is Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, a former secretary general of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), and lately a member of the Nyerere Foundation. Meanwhile, CCM Publicity and Ideology secretary Nape Nnauye yesterday denied reports that the acting chairman of the party’s youth wing, Mr Benno Malisa, has been removed from the Central Committee. The word doing the rounds here over the past two days had it that Mr Malisa got the sack after he questioned President Kikwete’s appointments of district commissioners announced by Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda on Wednesday last week. “These reports are not true,” said Mr Nnauye, who was flanked by Mr Malisa himself. Meanwhile, the CCM National Executive Committee (NEC) has appointed 32 CCM district secretaries in changes that are said to aim at strengthening the party. CCM Publicity and Ideology secretary Nape Nnauye mentioned the secretaries in a press statement as Grayson Mwenge, Abdallah Hassan, Ernest Makunga, Mgeni Haji, Innocent Nanzabar, Nicholous Malema and Mercy Moleli. Others are Michael Bundala, Elisante Kimaro, Zacharia Mwansasu, Eliud Semauye, Habas Mwijuki,  Loth Ole Nesele, Charles Sangura, Donald Magessa, Fredrick Sabuni, Janeth Mashele, Daniel Porokwa, Zongo Lobe Zongo, Mwanamvua Kilio and Joyce Mmasi.