DAR ES SALAAM: VICE-PRESIDENT Dr Emmanuel Nchimbi has stressed that the envisioned new Constitution should be built on consensus among all stakeholders, centred on people’s lives, human dignity, protect citizens’ rights and support national development.
Dr Nchimbi made the remarks in Dar es Salaam yesterday while opening the 15th General Meeting of the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC).
He called on Tanzanians across the political divide, including members of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), opposition parties, civil society organisations (CSOs) and human rights defenders, to support the constitutional reform process.
“A new Constitution is for the benefit of your children, grandchildren and future generations. It is for the benefit of our country,” he said.
The Vice-President said the new Constitution should help build a Tanzania where every citizen feels proud of their nationality, enjoys peace and security and contributes to national development regardless of political ideology, religion or ethnicity.
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He said President Samia Suluhu Hassan had demonstrated political commitment towards ensuring the country obtains a new Constitution, describing the leadership support as crucial to the process.
Dr Nchimbi recalled that while serving as Secretary-General of CCM-the committee formed to prepare the party’s election manifesto collected views from across the country and found that many Tanzanians wanted a new Constitution.
He said he later presented the matter to the then CCM Chairperson, who was also the party’s presidential candidate, seeking her commitment to include the issue in the manifesto.
“She told me that the Commission on Criminal Justice that I established had also recommended that Tanzanians want a new Constitution and she promised to implement it. She said she could not abandon that promise,” Dr Nchimbi said.
He said both the Criminal Justice Commission and the Chande Commission had recommended that the country should have a new Constitution before the 2029 local government elections and the 2030 General Election.
Dr Nchimbi urged Tanzanians to use the current opportunity to advance the process.
He noted that President Samia’s commitment had created an important opportunity.
Dr Nchimbi further commended THRDC for its contribution to legal aid, public education and stakeholder engagement on human rights matters.
He said the government recognised the important role played by human rights defenders, adding that no government could ignore their contribution.
According to him, THRDC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, the Samia Legal Aid Campaign and other stakeholders, had helped provide legal services to more than 4.157 million Tanzanians.
Dr Nchimbi said Tanzania’s Vision 2050 places human rights at the centre of efforts to build a just society through good governance, citizen participation and social equality.
He said achieving these objectives required close cooperation between the government, civil society organisations and human rights defenders.
“Civil society organisations have made a significant contribution. As a government, we cannot ignore the contribution you have made and the strength you have demonstrated both inside and outside the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, THRDC National Coordinator Advocate Onesmo Olengurumwa called for sustainable domestic financing strategies as international donor support continues to decline.
He said this year’s theme, “Rethinking Human Rights Financing in Tanzania: Strengthening the Sustainability of Human Rights Defenders’ Activities through Innovation, Investment and Domestic Resource Mobilisation Strategies,” highlights the need for new funding approaches.
Adv Olengurumwa said THRDC, which has more than 350 member organisations from Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, had launched the Human Rights Grant Project to mobilise resources from the private sector, local philanthropists and development partners.
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The initiative aims to strengthen grassroots organisations and reduce dependence on foreign funding.
“Stronger collaboration between the government, private sector and civil society is essential to achieving Tanzania’s Development Vision 2050 and building a peaceful, inclusive and prosperous nation,” he said.
The meeting brought together THRDC members, human rights defenders, development partners and representatives from various institutions to discuss the future of human rights protection and advocacy in Tanzania.