Conflict and Consensus in Constitution-making in Tanzania – 20th April 2016

Date and Time: Wednesday 20 April, 5.15-7.00pm

Professor Shivji in conversation with Shirumisha Kwayu- pic by F Macha 2016
Professor Shivji in conversation with Shirumisha Kwayu- pic by F Macha 2016

Venue: School of Oriental and African Studies, Room V122, Vernon Square Campus, Penton Rise, WC1X 9EW

We were pleased to give a platform to Professor Issa Shivji, who was on a brief visit to the UK at the invitation of the University of Warwick. The seminar took place on April 29th and was supported by the University of Warwick, the School of Oriental and African Studies, the Centre of African Studies and the Britain-Tanzania Society.

Ever since the 1970s, when his article ‘Tanzania: The Silent Class Struggle’ took up a whole issue of the student magazine Cheche, Issa Shivji has been at the forefront of political analysis and discussion in Tanzania (for the early history see the book Cheche: Reminiscences of a Radical Magazine edited by Karim Hirji reviewed in Tanzanian Affairs at http://www.tzaffairs.org/2011/05/reviews-57/). He has also made practical contributions on land issues in the courts, and as chair of a Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Land Matters in 1995 (https://www.tzaffairs.org/1995/01/the-land-commissions-proposals/). Until recently Issa was Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Research Professor in Pan-African Studies at Dar es Salaam University, where he worked to explore Nyerere’s contributions to political thinking. He is carrying this work on as Director of Kavazi la Mwalimu, the Nyerere Resource Centre in Dar es Salaam.

The discussion was introduced by Professor Issa Shivji with Dr Aikande Kwayu (a research affiliate of the Centre for Comparative and International Education at Oxford, and a consultant at Bumaco Ltd, with a special interest in the contributions of women to public life in Africa).

Prof. Shivji’s presentation took us through the seven constitutions which have provided the framework for governance in Tanzania since Independence in 1961, and the proposals of the Warioba Commission which reported in 2013, but was not accepted by the Kikwete government because of its proposals for Zanzibar. Then he commented on the difficulties of getting changes agreed while the issues of power and policy in Zanzibar remain unresolved. As he pointed out, following Paliwala’s article, also in Tanzanian Affairs (https://www.tzaffairs.org/2015/05/analysis-of-proposed-constitution/), a constitution is not something that can be imposed by a small majority – it needs to grow out of a process of discussion and debate until a consensus emerges on the best way forward.which reported in 2013, but was not accepted by the Kikwete government because of its proposals for Zanzibar. Then he commented on the difficulties of getting changes agreed while the issues of power and policy in Zanzibar remain unresolved. As he pointed out, following Paliwala’s article also in Tanzanian Affairs (https://www.tzaffairs.org/2015/05/analysis-of-proposed-constitution/) a constitution is not something that can be imposed by a small majority – it needs to grow out of a process of discussion and debate until a consenus emerges on the best way forward.

Issa also appealed for financial help to secure the future of Kavazi. If would like to make a donation please contact kavazi.nrc@gmail.com

This seminar was supported by the University of Warwick, the School of Oriental and African Studies, the Centre of African Studies and the Britain Tanzania Society.

 

 

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