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Tanzanian Government Incapable Of Running Shariah Courts - PM Admits
18 July 2009
Dodoma — Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda said yesterday the Government was not against the establishment of Shariah courts but does not wish to be in charge of them. He told Parliament during the Prime Minister's question time that President Jakaya Kikwete had asked him to appeal to the Muslim community to set up the courts within their religious framework. "It is not true that the Government does not want to see the establishment of the kadhi's courts. There is no problem with the courts," he said. "But it is not wise for the Government to preside over the courts," Mr Pinda said while responding to a question asked on the issue by Chonga MP Hemed Mohammed Hemed. Early this week, the National Muslim Council of Tanzania (Bakwata) announced a 25-member committee to engage the Government in a new push for the courts. The Mufti of Tanzania, Mr Issa Shabaan Simba will chair the committee comprising Islamic law experts, private advocates and professionals in other key sectors, according to Bakwata secretary-general Suleiman Lolila. "The committee has one aim to ensure the establishment of kadhi's courts in the country, and they will outline what needs to be discussed with the Government,"said Mr Lolila in a statement. Prime Minister Pinda said President Kikwete had suggested that the Government could support the courts on "structural arrangements" not supervisory issues. "I wish the minister for Constitutional Affairs and Justice were here to talk more about this issue," Mr Pinda said. The Prime Minister recently met Mufti Simba and a team of Muslim leaders after the Government hinted it was not planning to establish the kadhi's courts. Irked by the Government's stance, some Muslims had threatened not to vote for the ruling party in the 2010 general election if the courts were not established. The Government suggested it could only incorporate Islamic laws into the Constitution, a decision that was interpreted as contrary to what the ruling party had promised Muslims during the 2005 elections. Both sides have, however, agreed to form two committees to resolve the controversial issue. But the Government has not yet announced its team. Members of the Bakwata team include sheikhs Suleiman Kilemile of the Islamic Society, Abubakar Zubeir (Salafiya), Hamid Jongo (Manyema masjid), Muharam Dogga (Al-haramain), Twalib Ahamed (Maamur Masjid) and two lawyers Yahya Njama and Issa Maige. Others are Mr Lolila, Ismail Habibu, Taufiq Malilo, Fereji Hassan, Alhad Musa, Abdallah Nyasi, Mohamed Said and Abdallah Matumla. The team also includes Sheikh Juma Pori (Answar Suna), Abdallah Bawazir (Kiblateni masjid) Mussa Kundecha (Muslim council and institutions) and representatives Shia, Sunni, Bohora, Istiqama, Abdalla Ndaga (Interrnational Islamic Relief Organisation). Meanwhile, the Government has once again appealed for patience from teachers over the delayed payments of their salary arrears and benefits. Prime Minister Pinda said striking would not resolve the teachers' problem. He was responding to a question by special seats MP Susan Lyimo (Chadema) who asked what the Government was doing to address the plight of teachers following a strike threat by their union. Mr Pinda said the Government had committed some funds in the 2009/10 Budget to pay the teachers. He said a decision to place all secondary and primary schools under the Regional Administration and Local Government ministry was aimed at facilitating the process. The Tanzania Teachers Union (TTU) recently threatened to call for a strike should the Government fail to honour its promise to settle their arrears.
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