Education bar set too high, CRC told

Iramba. Education should not be the only criterion that qualifies one to assume public office such as the presidency and member of Parliament, it was proposed during the ongoing Katiba assemblies in Iramba District.

The call was made by Mbelekesi ward councillor Monica Samwel when discussing the first draft of the new constitution at Iramba district headquarters. 

According to Mrs Samwel, the Constitution Review Commission should remove all provisions in the draft which set a certain level of education as a prerequisite for elective posts.

Article 75 (f) of the draft of the new constitution cites among other criteria that for someone to vie for the presidency he or she should at least hold a first degree from a recognised university. 

For its part, Article 117 (1)(b) requires someone who wants to vie for a Parliamentary seat to at least hold a Form Four certificate. 

However, Mrs Samwel said sanity, experience and patriotism should be the main criteria for someone to contest for a public office.

“Currently, we have professors who are ministers but that hasn’t stopped us from entering dubious contracts with investors simply because our leaders are not patriotic...they have put their own interests ahead of the public’s,” said Mrs Samwel.

Commenting on Section Seven, Article 68, which speaks about the presidency, Mr Haji Mkuju wanted the new constitution to restrict the number of people who are allowed to assume the presidency in the Head of State’s absence.

“Only the Vice President, the Prime Minister or the Speaker of the National Assembly or Chief Justice should be allowed to act as president if the Head of State is not in the country at a particular time,” said Mr Mkuju.

Article 73 (1) (A-C) indicates that apart from the Vice President and any senior minister is allowed to act as president in his or her absence.