The Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema) has submitted four major proposals to the Parliamentary Committee on Administration, Constitution, and Legal Affairs regarding amendments to election laws presented by the government in Dodoma in November 2023. Our correspondent reports from Dar es Salaam… (continue).

The proposals were presented on January 10, 2024, by the Secretary-General of Chadema, John Mnyika, before the committee in Dodoma, following input from various stakeholders, including the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC) and the Legal and Human Rights Center (THRDC).

Chadema’s first proposal calls for the government to withdraw the presented bills, claiming they do not address the fundamental issues of the national electoral commission’s structure or election laws. The second proposal urges the government to introduce a bill to expedite the process of obtaining a new constitution.

The third proposal recommends that the government submit a bill for transitional amendments to the current constitution, facilitating the conduct of free and fair elections after removing constitutional provisions with deficiencies.

The final proposal urges the government to introduce legislation enabling the national electoral commission to oversee local government elections instead of the President’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government (TAMISEMI).

Chadema has identified constitutional areas requiring amendments to enhance the electoral system, including Article 39(2), suggesting the removal of the requirement for an individual to be a political party member to qualify for the presidency of the United Republic of Tanzania.

The party also proposes amending Article 41(7) of the constitution, which prohibits challenging presidential election results in court. Chadema advocates for the right of voters or candidates to challenge results in the Court of Appeal.