Constituent Assembly chairman Samwel Sitta shakes hands with Polycarp Cardinal Pengo of the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam of the Catholic Church when he visited him in his office in Dsm yesterday.
- Sitta: Request discussed with President Kikwete
- Top clerics briefed on draft constitution discussions
According to Sitta the extension would possibly be effected in August this year, after the annual Budget Session, which is set to begin on 9 May, this year.
He disclosed the plan yesterday when he met separately with the Archbishop of Dar es Salaam, Polycarp Cardinal Pengo and the Chief Sheikh, Mufti Issa bin Shaaban Simba.
Sitta who is also the Minister for East African Cooperation noted that he had already discussed the matter with the President who showed readiness to give more time to CA members to complete their assignment.
He said the main reason for CA adjournment is to pave way for Members of Parliament and those from the House of Representatives to debate and approve the national budget for the 2014/2015 financial year.
“I met with the President to request for extension of time for the CA to complete the assignment. He agreed to adjourn the ongoing sessions to allow MPs to debate and approve the national budget,” said Sitta, adding that the CA may resume later in August this year.
“The President is willing to extend time for the CA just to ensure writing of the new Mother Law. The process will now go smoothly especially after debating the tricky sections (37 & 38) of the standing orders”, he noted.
Sitta elaborated that section 28 of the Constitution Review Act gives him powers to seek advice from the President on extension of CA period.
He however added that adjustment of the CA lifespan will depend with resolutions reached between the President of Zanzibar, Dr Mohamed Shein and President Kikwete.
He said the budget session is scheduled to start on May 9, this year.
He said after the budget session, the law makers will be given a one month leave to visit their respective constituencies before resuming the CA.
The chairman was optimistic that the constitution will be written insisting that members have already voted for the first two chapters (1 & 6) and committee chair persons will table their report in the house tomorrow.
The 70-day CA session started on February 18th this year. It was officially launched by President Jakaya Kikwete on March 24th, 2014 after the Chairman of the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) Judge Joseph Warioba tabled second draft of the constitution.
Meanwhile the CA Chairman said his visit to the county’s top religious leaders was meant to give updates on the ongoing constitution making process in Dodoma.
He said the two top clerics deserve to be informed clearly on what is happening in the CA debating chambers. He said it is unfair for such leaders to be informally updated.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
No Comment to " Constituent Assembly seeks extension "