Africa-Press – Tanzania. AS Tanzania draws closer to the October 2025 General Election, a renewed call for constitutional reform has re-emerged at the centre of political debate, with several parties pledging to revive the long-stalled process of drafting a new constitution.
Political parties promise reform
The call for a new constitution is not new, but this election cycle has seen an unusual level of cross-party agreement. Several political parties, including the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), ACT–Wazalendo, Civic United Front (CUF), Chama cha Ukombozi wa Umma (CHAUMMA) and NCCR– Mageuzi, have all pledged to revive and complete the constitutional process if elected this year.
CCM’s presidential candidate and incumbent Head of State, Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, has already committed to initiating the constitutional process within her first 100 days in office if re-elected.
Her position signals readiness to fulfil a long-awaited democratic reform agenda that has remained dormant since 2014.
On the other hand, ACT– Wazalendo has promised to complete the new constitution process within a year of taking office, while CHAUMMA has vowed to submit a bill to Parliament within 100 days of assuming power.
The proposed bill, according to CHAUMMA, would establish a new commission responsible for coordinating the drafting of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania.
The Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) has joined this conversation, issuing a comprehensive set of recommendations to guide the next phase of the constitutionmaking process.
The organisation’s proposals aim to ensure that the new constitution truly reflects citizens’ aspirations and resolves long-standing structural challenges that have defined Tanzania’s governance since independence.
THRDC argues that the time is ripe to complete what it calls “the people’s constitution”, building on the foundation laid by the Warioba Draft and other previous efforts.
Building on unfinished work
THRDC’s National Coordinator, Mr Onesmo Olengurumwa, recently issued a detailed statement, urging political leaders to transform campaign promises into concrete action.
He emphasised that since the country already has three key constitutional texts the 1977 Constitution, the 2014 Proposed Constitution and the Warioba Draft the next process should begin by harmonising these documents.
“Since we already have the Citizens’ Constitution (the Warioba Draft), the current Constitution and the Proposed Constitution, we propose that to save time and money, the process of completing a new constitution should begin with reviewing and harmonising the contents of these three documents,” Mr Olengurumwa said.
He further recommended that the drafting process be completed within one year after the 2025 General Election.
To achieve this, THRDC proposes the establishment of a Committee of Experts, comprising at least 25 professionals with academic capacity and broad representation across the Union and social groups.
According to Mr Olengurumwa, priority should be given to the Warioba Draft because it was the only version that directly incorporated the views of Tanzanian citizens.
The Commission would draw on previous reports, including the Nyalali, Kisanga, and Warioba commissions, as well as the 2014 Proposed Constitution—to ensure that the final document is both comprehensive and reflective of citizens’ needs.
Mr Olengurumwa welcomed these pledges, saying: “We commend all parties and candidates who continue to demonstrate the importance of reviving the new constitution process. This is the proper moment for the nation to return to this agenda because political parties have already declared their intentions.”
Why the timing matters
THRDC insists that the constitution-writing process should not coincide with general election.
“We must avoid executing the constitutional process concurrently with elections,” said Mr Olengurumwa, noting that the 2014–2015 period demonstrated how politically charged environments can compromise the impartiality and inclusiveness of the process.
He warned that if the process is conducted in a divided political atmosphere, the resulting document risks being biased and unrepresentative of all Tanzanians.
Instead, he proposes that the process be completed within one year after the elections to allow adequate time for dialogue and national reflection.
Without a strong, reconciliatory constitution, he added, many political and social challenges will persist.
“This opportunity should not be ignored; it must be used to lay the foundation for genuine national reconciliation,” he urged.
Learning from neighbours: Lessons from Africa
Drawing lessons from Uganda, South Africa and Kenya— countries that have successfully reformed their constitutions— THRDC emphasises three essential factors: transparency, citizen participation and genuine political will.
In Kenya, the 2010 Constitution was the result of extensive citizen engagement and consensus-building.
In South Africa, the post-apartheid constitution emerged from negotiations that balanced political reconciliation with democratic inclusivity.
Uganda’s 1995 Constitution also set a precedent for participatory drafting, even though subsequent amendments diluted some of its democratic gains.
Historic journey:
From 1961 to 1977 To understand the current constitutional debate, one must trace Tanzania’s long journey of constitutional evolution.
The country’s first constitution—the 1961 Independence Constitution—was drafted in Britain and passed by the British Parliament as the Tanganyika Independence Order in Council.
It served as the foundation for self-rule but left significant powers in the hands of the British Crown, which retained the Head of State role.
In 1962, the Republican Constitution replaced it, marking Tanganyika’s full independence.
However, it was drafted by 71 TANU Members of Parliament, without broad public participation.
It concentrated significant powers in the presidency, with ministers accountable directly to the Head of State rather than Parliament.
Following the 1964 Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar, a new Union Constitution was enacted.
It established the United Republic of Tanzania and defined 11 Union matters— later expanded to 22.
The 1965 Interim Constitution formalised a one-party political system through the merger of TANU and the Afro-Shirazi Party (ASP).
The 1977 Permanent Constitution, adopted after the formation of Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), entrenched this one-party system while establishing the presidency and two-government Union structure that remains today.
Since its adoption, the 1977 Constitution has undergone 14 amendments, most of them through parliamentary action without broad citizen involvement.
Key constitutional amendments: Expanding democracy and rights
Among these amendments, the 1984 Fifth Amendment was historic—it introduced a new chapter on human rights and duties of citizens, aligning Tanzania’s governance with international human rights standards.
The 1992 Eighth Amendment, following the Nyalali Commission Report, officially ended the one-party era and ushered in multi-party democracy.
This amendment was a turning point, restructuring the Union Parliament to include special seats for women and formally recognising political pluralism.
Subsequent amendments between 1994 and 2005 introduced the office of the Prime Minister, limited presidential terms to two five-year tenures, and expanded women’s representation in Parliament to 30 per cent.
“These constitutional reforms reflected Tanzania’s gradual evolution toward democracy, yet they were fragmented and reactive,” explained Mr Olengurumwa.
“That’s why the country now needs a comprehensive new constitution to address modern challenges in governance, accountability and human rights.”
The 2011–2015 constitutional review:
A missed opportunity Under President Jakaya Kikwete, the most ambitious attempt at drafting a new constitution began in 2011 with the enactment of the Constitutional Review Act No. 8.
This law established the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) chaired by Judge Joseph Warioba.
Comprising 32 members from both the Mainland and Zanzibar, the Commission collected citizens’ views across the country.
It produced the First Draft Constitution, which was refined into the Second Draft and submitted to President Kikwete in December 2013.
The drafts reflected citizens’ calls for greater separation of powers, an independent judiciary, a fair Union structure and enhanced freedoms.
The process stalled after the 2015 General Election, as political attention shifted elsewhere.
Why a new constitution matters now
For THRDC and other civic actors, reviving the constitutional process is not just about political promises—it’s about restoring public trust and ensuring the next generation inherits a governance framework that protects equality, justice and human rights.
“A strong constitution is the backbone of peace, accountability and social cohesion,” said Mr Olengurumwa.
“Without it, political divisions, corruption and misuse of power will continue to harm the nation.”
He believes that the new constitution should address emerging issues such as environmental protection, gender equality, access to information, digital rights and the balance of power between the Union and Zanzibar.
Towards a people-driven constitution
THRDC insists that for Tanzania to have a truly people’s constitution, the next process must be transparent, inclusive and time-bound.
Every Tanzanian, regardless of political affiliation, must feel ownership of the final document. “The constitution should not belong to politicians—it should belong to the people,” said Mr Olengurumwa.
“This is why we propose that citizens’ participation be institutionalised from the first to the last stage.”
He added that a successful process requires funding independence for the constitutional commission, protection from political interference and public education campaigns to ensure citizens understand the issues at stake.
The road ahead
As the 2025 General Election draws nearer, the promise of a new constitution has become both a political and moral test for Tanzania’s leaders.
Whether led by CCM or the opposition, the government that emerges will face the challenge of turning decades of debate into action.
The call by THRDC and other civil society actors reflects a growing consensus that the time for constitutional reform is now—or risk losing yet another decade to indecision.
If the process is guided by transparency, inclusiveness and genuine commitment, Tanzania could finally realise Mwalimu Julius Nyerere’s vision of a united, just and democratic nation built on the will of its people.
Source: Daily News – Tanzania Standard Newspapers
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