CIVICS FORM TWO – GOVERNMENT OF TANZANIA

MAKING THE CONSTITUTION

Historical background of Tanzania constitution.

• Tanzania constitution has undergone several major changes since 1961 as follows:
  

 

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1. The independence constitution of 1961.
   

   It was made by the British colonialist. It was used when Tanganyika got her independence and when Mwl. Nyerere was a prime minister.
   

2. The Republican constitution.
   

   It was made by the constitution Assembly when Tanganyika proposing to make the country a republic Mwl. Nyerere was elected to be first president of the republic of Tanganyika.
   

3. The interim constitution of the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar of 1964.
   

   It was made by president of Tanzania after the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar.
   

4. The interior constitution of Tanzania 1965.
   

   It was made by the parliament of the United Republic of Tanzania. This constitution declared Tanzania a single party state where by TANU of Tanzania mainland and ASP of Zanzibar where the only political parties recognized by the constitution.
   

5. The constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania of 1977.
   

   It was made by constitution Assembly (BUNGE) when Tanu and ASP to form Chama cha Mapinduzi ( CCM).
   

   CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT
   

 

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This is process of improving / changing the laws in the constitution. In 1977 constitution has the following major amendment the cater for changing needs of the society.

1. The introduction of a Bill of right (1984).
   
2. Introduction of the multi-party system (1992).
   
3. Introduction of the Vice president as the president running mate in the election and the president of Zanzibar as a member of the Union cabinet (1995).
   
4. Change in mode of electing the president (2000).
   

   a. The president to be elected by highest votes.
   

   b. The number of seats allocated to women in parliament was increased to thirty percent.
   

   c. The establishment of independence of the Judiciary and its power on legal matter.
   

   d. The establishment of the human Right and good governance commission.
   

 

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IMPORTANCE OF A NATIONAL CONSTITUTION

The constitution is very importance to the country for the following reason.

1. The constitution practices the rights of individual.
   
2. It ensures that the government is fair and Just to its citizens.
   
3. It describes the form of government that is used in the country.
   
4. It defines the limits of the power of leaders.
   
5. It shows how leaders are to be chosen.
   

 

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Relationship between the constitution and the government of Tanzania

1. The constitution  defines the form of government to be used in our country.E.g The constitution state that our government is the United Republic.
   
2. The government has to be based on principles of democracy, human right, social justice and observance of sovereignty of the state as the constitution.
   
3. It is the constitution that establishment the organs of the state as the constitution prescribes.
   
4. The constitution state the terms of the leaders and how they are elected.
   
5. The elected leaders take an action to defend the constitution.
   
6. Leaders of the government are supposed to rule according to the constitution.

 

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Ways of the protecting the constitution

1. The existing constitution was made by a body which dissolved after finishing its task.
   
2. All laws of the country are derived from the constitution and no one can make laws which contradict the constitution.
   
3. The court laws protect the constitution by ensuring that all people are allowed to enjoy their rights.
   
4. The government and non- government organization educate the society so that they can understand and protect their constitution rights.
   
5. Mass media educate people about their right so that when these right is abused they can demand them at the courts of law.
   
6. Every citizen must honour the constitution.
   

 

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Meaning of local government.

   Is the system of administration in which elected representative area in charge of the administration of region, districts, urban centers and villages. The members of this authority are elected by the resident of these areas. The local government authorities were established in 1982.

Reason for the establishment of local government.

1. To give more power to the people in the localities.
   
2. To widen the system of democratic leadership.
   

 

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Structure of Local Government

There are two categories of local government authorities these are:

1. Rural authorities which are known as district council
   

 

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     2.  Urban authorities

• The district councils range from the village level to the district level.
  
• The urban authorities are responsible for the administration and development of town ship municipalities and cities.
  

                 Structure of local government

• 
  

 

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   District authorities

1. The village government
   

 

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The village government is the smallest unit in the local government.It is formed by 250 households.The area with the number mentioned above is likely to be declared to have village government.
Village government works through their major organs which are the village Assembly,village council and village committees.

                                                                                                                          Structure of the village government

                                                           

A. The village assembly

It is composed of the entire adult population living in the village. The head of the assembly is village chairperson who is elected by the village assembly. These are function of village assembly.

1. Adopting by laws of the village.
   
2. Electing the village chairperson.
   
3. Electing the village council.
   

 

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B. The village committees

1. There are different committees in the village including planning, finance, economic, affairs, social services, security, forest production and water resources.
   

   The committees perform different roles in the village according to their specialized categories.
   

   C. The village council.
   

   Members of the village council are twenty five in number. They are elected by the village assembly.
   

   Their head is the village chairperson. The village council is the executive arm of the village assembly.
   

 

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• It performs the day – to – day government activities of the village under the supervision of the village Executive officer (VEO) who is appointed by the district council.
  

 

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Function of the village council

1. Planning and coordinating village activities
   
2. Giving assistance and advising the villagers on development matters like agriculture and industry.
   
3. Encouraging village resident to undertake and participate in communal enterprises.
   
4. Proposing by – law for the village.
   

 

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2. The ward government

The structure of word government is divided into three main parts which are the ward committee,ward Executive officer and the departments(which includes several departments.

       

           Ward Development Committee

It is the highest organ under the chairperson who is the ward Councillor is elected by the citizen during general election after every five years.
Ward Executive Officer

Is the leader and coordinator of all development activities within the ward.He or She is an employee of the district Council.

Ward departments

Ward has several departments as seen in the structure above.

          Some of the roles and function of the word development council include:

1. Developing general plans for the word
   
2. Managing disasters and other environment related activities within the word.
   
3. Reviewing the proposals for the village council projects and passing them on for further approval at the district level.
   

   The district councils
   

   The district council is composed of:
   

4. Chairperson who is elected from among the Councillors.
   
5. Councillor from each ward in a district.
   
6. Chairpersons of Village Councils elected by the district council.

 

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4.  Three members appointed by the minister for Local Government Authorities.

5.  Members of parliament from constituencies within the district.

The district Executive Director (DED) is appointed by the president he or she is the secretary to the district council.

The district council had the following committees.

1. District Development Committees.
   
2. Finance administration and planning committee.
   
3. Economic construction and environment committee.
   
4. Education, health, and water committee.
   
5. Ethics committee.
   

 

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The roles and function of district council include:

1. Supervising the implementation of all plans for economic, commercial, industrial and social development in the district.
   
2. Approving by laws made by the village council.
   
3. Coordinating palms, projects and programmers for the village in the district.
   
4. Providing environment protection and managing in the district.
   
5. Promoting the social welfare and economic well being of residents.
   
6. Passing by – laws applicable in the district.
   
7. Submitting by – laws to the regional officer for comments and submitting the by – laws to the minister for local government Authorities for approval.
   

 

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Urban authorities

Urban authorities include town, councils, municipal council and city council.

1. TOWN COUNCIL
   

   The town council is found at town level. usually, it is independent from the district council. The structure of the council constitutes councillors elected from each ward, members or parliament representing constituencies with the town. other are members o the periament who resides in town, and five members who are appointed by the minister responsible for local government. The township has The Chairman and the Town Director who is the chief exercutive

2.  MUNICIPAL COUNCIL
   

   These are found in towns with a population of over 80,000 residents. Tanzania municipal council includes Dodoma, Morogoro, Kinondoni, Ilala, and Temeke.
   

   Members of the municipal are the same as those of town council and headed by mayor.

 

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     Officials in municipal are:

1. The mayor, who is the head of the municipal council and is assisted by the deputy mayor,.
   

   These two are elected among councils.
   

2. A municipal executive director. He or she is a secretary to the municipal council.
   
3. The chair person and vice chairperson of the municipality.
   

   3. CITY COUNCILS
   

   Tanzania currently has five cities namely:
   

   Dar es salaam, Mwanza, Arusha, Tanga, and Mbeya . The city councils composed of:
   

4. Councilors, one from each ward in the city.
   
5. Members of parliament representing constituencies within the city.
   
6. Six members appointed by the minister for local government Authorities from among the city resident.
   

 

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Officers in the city council are:

The mayor-Elected among members in the city Councillor

The city director-Appointed by the president.

Urban Authorities have committees which are:

1. Economic affairs, health, and education and environment.
   
2. Finance and administration.
   

 

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The role of urban authorities includes:

1. Facilitating the maintenance of peace, order and good governance.
   
2. Promoting social welfare and the economic well being of the local community.
   
3. Furthering social and economic development of their areas
   
4. Taking necessary measures to suppress crime and protect public and private properties.
   
5. Regulating and improving agriculture, trade, economic, and industry.
   
6. Enhancing the health, education, social well – being and recreational life of the people.
   
7. Eradicating poverty.
   

 

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Functions of urban authorities.

Taking and requiring the taking of measure for conservation of natural resources, prevention of soil erosion and prohibition of improper cultivation.

1. Keeping the environment clean.
   
2. Taking measure aimed at preventing injury to public health.
   

 

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Functions of Local government

The local government authorities have three main function which are administration, maintenance of law and order, and economic and development planning. In order to fulfill these functions the Local government authorities.

1. Hold public resources in trust.
   
2. Initiate, plan and perform development activities in the Civic areas.
   
3. Provide social services, for instance road maintenance, primary, health care services, primary education and adult education.
   
4. Legislate or debate and adopt by laws.
   
5. Maintain law, peace, order and good governance in their localities.
   
6. Charge fees for services and licenses
   

 

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Each council operates like the national government council has three arms. These are

1. The legislative arm composed of elected and nominated councilors.
   
2. An executive arm composed of permanent staff headed by the clerk to the council.
   
3. A judicial arm generally known as the municipal or city courts.
   

 

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Small council has their judicial matters referred to the nearest magistrate courts.

Student participation in school and local government authorities

Student has a duty to participate actively in function of their school as well as local government authorities.

A. In school.

1. Students can participate actively in school function in the following ways:

2. Working hard in school in order to achieve the school’s academic goals as well as their oral academic goals.

3. Debating matters relating to their schools development and coming up with ideas.

4. Electing their students council or government.

5. Enforcing laws enacted by the school authority to bring peace and harmony in the school.

6. Participating in the school development project.

7. Taking part in activities to protect the school environment.

8. Visiting people with special needs in the community like children’s homes and old people‘s homes.

B. In local government authorities

Student can participate in the function of the local government in the following ways:

1. Planting trees in the local area.
   
2. Volunteering in development project such as construction of school, and dispensaries and road maintenance.
   
3. Demonstrating to their parents or guardians what they area thought in school for the improvement of their locality.
   

 

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Important Effect of Local Government on People’s Lives

Local authorities are very important in people‘s lives since among the six allocation schemes of local government in the central budget five focuses on the well being of the people. These five schemes are:

• Education
  
• Health
  
• Water
  
• Agriculture
  

 

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The six schemes focus on local administration.

The function of local government has positive effect on peoples live. These effects are:

1. Peace, order and harmony prevail in their localities.
   
2. Production is conducted without any interference.
   
3. Local government ennglish-swahili/courage” target=”_blank”>courages democratic participation.
   
4. People benefit what they contribute to the local government.
   

 

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Source of local government revenue

Revenue is also called income.

Source of income / revenue for local government are:

1. Rent
   

   Example of rent is:
   

2. Houses rent from council houses.
   
3. Rent from market stalls.
   
4. Land rent and services charge.
   

   2. Licenses
   

   A license is a permanent from an authority to come out an activity own or use something. A person can apply for a license for things such as:
   

5. Auctioning
   
6. Driving
   
7. Retail trading
   
8. Entertainment
   
9. Fishing
   

   3. Duties
   

   Duties are fees paid for certain goods and services. Example includes:
   

10. Customs duties, paid on goods brought in to the country.
    
11. Stamp duty, paid for some legal democracies.
    
12. Excise duties, paid for some goods made, sold or used within the country.
    

    4. Contributions
    

    Resident living in an area contribute to their local authority through.
    

13. Fee under by law.
    
14. Court fines.
    
15. Paying for the use of community centers.
    
16. Hiding fund raising for community project.
    

    5. Grant and Loans
    

    These are fund given by the central government and various local and international agencies to the local government authorities.