YESTERDAY: Song, dance colour draft Katiba event

Members of Constituent Assembly (MCAs) cerebrating during handing over
ceremony of the proposed New Constitutional at Jamhuri
Stadium in Dodoma yesterday. PHOTO | EDWIN MJWAHUZI 

Dodoma. The party that started on Thursday last week for Members of Constituent Assembly (MCAs) carried on yesterday at the Jamuhuri grounds as they handed over the proposed constitution to President Jakaya Kikwete.

On Thursday, the debating chamber was temporarily turned into a dancing hall in celebrations that greeted the two-thirds victory from Zanzibar members, in endorsing the proposed constitution.

Yesterday, the MCAs had a wider dancing floor, responding nicely to the tunes of Tanzania One Theatre (TOT) and traditional artists very well.

The show was captured by women MCAs who wore special-order kitenge uniform to mark the day and, choir-style, sang a special song. However some male MCAs couldn’t let their female counterparts stole the whole show. Mr Deo Sanga who is still remembered for dancing to the extent of lying down in the CA, led collelagues who included Mr Nimrod Mkono, Augustine Mrema, Philipo Mulugo, Mtutura Mtutura, Captain John Komba, John Shibuda and Suleiman Nchambi, to challenge female MCAs on the dancing floor.

Other artists also perfomed in the event, including Mrisho Mpoto who recited a special poem about the Katiba Writing process. Standup comedian Steve Nyerere left the audience to stiches as he was imitating the voices of national leaders, including those who were in the attendance, like President Kikwete, Zanzibar President Dr Ali Mohammed Shein and retired Union President Ali Hassan Mwinyi.

Among the invited guests were about 25 diplomats accredited to Tanzania. CA chairman Mr Samuel Sitta arrived in the ground ready to hand over the document which was prepared under his leadership at around 1:45 pm. The guest of honour President Kikwete arrived at around 3:30 pm.

Dodoma residents responded well to calls relayed from government vehicles mounted with public address systems that criss-crossed the town from Tuesday to yesterday morning, to assemble at the venue for the historic event. Some people came in from from across the country.

The gates to the ground were opened earlier in the morning and residents of the town and neighbouring villages started pouring, in some by foot and others in vehicles. Students from selected town schools had a day off yesterday and created a significant population of those who attended the event.

“I am here to witness the historic event and also to get a glimpse of our president; I haven’t seen him live before,” said Mathias Chibwete of Msalato.

Representatives from several groups which enjoyed a mention and special privileges in the proposed Katiba also attended. Some people wore white T-shirts bearing the message: “26-4-64 (standing for the date of Union); I’m a true nationalist and I will fight for my country’s interests…”

Security was tight and all roads towards the stadium were closed except for pedestrians and vehicles carrying dignitaries and government officials.

Armed police, and those from the dog and horse section patrolled the area. Also police took positions in the top floors of high-rise buildings close to the stadium to make sure that all went well within

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