Tanzania’s aspirations for quick democratic reforms have been postponed until August, when all political parties will convene a meeting to discuss the recommendations of a government-backed taskforce that held public consultations last year.
The consensus to call a larger meeting in August was among resolutions reached at a Political Parties Council meeting held in Dar es Salaam on May 26 in response to President Samia Hassan’s order for the reforms process, including the drafting of a new constitution, to be speeded up.
According to council chairman Juma Ali Khatibu, the initial meeting was aimed at discussing steps to be taken in preparation for the meeting in August.
The initial meeting was held on the same day that the East African Court of Justice dismissed a government appeal against the court’s 2022 ruling calling for changes to the Political Parties Act, 2019 to bring it in line with democratic principles set out in the East African Community Treaty.
On May 6, President Samia instructed the Registrar of Political Parties, Judge Francis Mutungi, to meet with the parties and formally chart a way for the reforms process based on the task force’s report.
According to Judge Mutungi, one recommendation from the report that will be put into effect quickly is the formation of a “panel of experts” to supervise the process to its logical conclusion.
