Former TANU legislator challenges the government

FORMER Member of Parliament during the first phase government has thrown a challenge to the government of Jakaya Kikwete suggesting the idea of education should be given priority in all matters pertaining to the execution of national development programmes. Gregory Mogendi Nyanchini (75) once a member of Parliament for Tarime constituency between 1971 and 1975 said in an exclusive interview recently at his Gamasara village in Tarime that, failure to achieve targets for the national development programs is to a certain extent as a result of lack of civic education many Tanzanians have. Nyanchini ostensibly pointed out that, he is surprised to see that there are some national developments programs which do not catch up as planned for reasons he termed as due to lack of proper education amongst Tanzanians the majority of whom are rural dwellers. Elaborating on the constitutional review process which is going on countrywide, the former legislator has observed that, most Tanzanians especially rural dwellers do not know what a constitution is all about an aspect that they might have nothing to comment about during its debate. In view of this, he has however suggested the government should take time to educate its people on the importance of the national constitution so as to let as many of them participate effectively at this time people’s views are collected by a special commission led by Judge Joseph Warioba. According to him, if the government is not serious, scores of Tanzanians are likely to loose their precious chance of contributing their views on what they see should be the right to be done for their future life. “Many people are not well educated when it comes to the issue of the national constitution and its importance to the society as many families are illiterate and still ignorant about their rights” he said adding that there is a need of educating people first prior to giving out their views.  He has also suggested Members of Parliament in the country to take on the responsibility of enlightening their people from various constituencies in the country as illiteracy amongst Tanzanians is still a national disaster. Citing an example during his tenure as a legislator, the government had assigned every Member of Parliament to work with their people for the promotion of the adult education, a program he said was introduced to wipe off illiteracy amongst the people when villagisation program took effect in rural communities in early 1970s. He said the program had some significance pertaining to the promotion of ‘Socialism and self reliance’ policies which were the major ideological basis of the republic. To his dismay, he is surprised to see that most development programs are not given the priority on education a factor he noted that such initiatives ended up with poor results. “During the reign of TANU and socialist policies, the government put much emphasis on adult education a program that aimed at enlightening the masses on the awareness of the impeding development programs in the country” he said adding that, now there is nothing which is being done as a guidance to achieve the required goals. He has however warned Tanzanians to be careful as the issue of constitution is very sensitive and that people must take precautions and shouldn’t give an opportunity for the few to benefit amongst them while the majority is suffering.