KATIBA MEMBER WANTS JOB FOR YOUTH.

Constituent Assembly (CA) member Beatrice Shelukindo has suggested that the new Constitution should contain provisions that assure the youth of employment.


Ms Shelukindo argued that the new Supreme Law should state categorically that people attaining the age of 60 should retire in order to pave the way for younger people to join the working population.


“It should state that it is illegal for people aged 60 and above to continue working. Anyone found employing people in that age category should be taken to court,” she said.


She was speaking at an open forum during a special training to CA members organised by the Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) held here at the weekend.


The training aimed at discussing various articles and provisions contained in the second Draft Constitution that dwell on human rights and related issues.


The training also sought to make sure that the new Constitution would keep the article and provisions on human rights.


“We still have a big problem in this country because we have witnessed various people reaching retirement age but still their contracts are extended while young people are moving from one office to another in search of jobs to no avail,’’ she said adding: “Look at our envoys in various countries, they are too old to the extent that their thinking capacity is surely poor, yet we have young people who are well educated and are energetic.’’


Ms Shelukindo said if her proposal would be put into consideration, it would be a major boost to majority youth who are haunted by unemployment in t

he country.

TIGHT SECURITY AS CCM ENJOYS EARLY LEAD..

Ruling CCM candidate Godfrey Mgimwa was enjoying an early in the Kalenga by-election as results from polling stations in 13 wards began streaming late yesterday.
CCM supporters took to the streets to cheer upon receiving unconfirmed reports that their candidate was ahead of his arch rival, Chadema’s contestant Grace Tendenga.

Final results were expected to be announced late into the night by the returning officer, Ms Kisaka Prudenciana.

Earlier, thousands of voters yesterday cast their votes in the Kalenga Constituency parliamentary by-election in Iringa Region amid tight security.

Apart from police manning polling stations, patrol vehicles were seen in various parts of the constituency since dawn.

Drama witnessed during the election included the arrest of a polling clerk for allegedly giving two ballot papers to a voter.


Returning officer Purdenciana Kisaka confirmed the incident and said another clerk was immediately called in to replace the arrested one.

Ms Kisaka added that until the closure of all polling stations at 4pm yesterday, the exercise had been peaceful in most parts of the constituency.

But in yet another incident, Chadema candidate Grace Tendega, accompanied by Arusha Urban MP Godbless, Lema used a helicopter to visit various polling stations despite a police ban on the use of choppers during the exercise.

At Kiwele Village, police arrived in time and averted a potentially violent confrontation between Chadema and CCM youths. The officers confiscated machetes from some of the youth, who claimed the weapons were for “self defence”.


Agents and clerks used umbrellas to shield ballot papers after an afternoon downpour destroyed the grass-thatched polling station in Mseke Ward.


Iringa Regional Police Commander Ramadhan Mungi said law enforcers were in control of the situation, saying no serious security incidents were reported.




Meanwhile, controversy still surrounds the arrest of Chadema Special Seats MP Rose Kamili who, upon her release on bail from police custody at around noon yesterday, claimed she was abducted and assaulted by unknown people.


She told this newspaper yesterday that her abductors assailed her when she was giving directives to Chadema agents.


The group robbed her of Sh350,000 and $500, two mobile phones and 16 copies of the voter register she was to give the agents. The tearful legislator said: “They beat me up...they humiliated me.”


But CCM regional chairperson Jessica Msambatavangu distanced the party from the incident. She said the party offered Ms Kamili protection until police arrived.


“Let’s wait for police investigations and the truth will be known,” she said.


Mr Mungi said police officers found Ms Kamili at the CCM regional office and took her to the station after some CCM supporters claimed they caught her bribing voters. “We were informed that she was caught bribing voters but on meeting her, she claimed that she was abducted and assaulted, so we are investigating both allegations – bribery and assault,” he said. Mr Mungi, however, said the police could not ascertain how long Ms Kamili had stayed at the CCM offices before law.

-THE CITICEN