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President Jakaya Kikwete's announcement last week that a Constitutional Review Commission will be formed in April, has been hailed as a serious step towards addressing contentious issues in the country.

The process of reforming Tanzania's constitution will provide an opportunity to address a number of long standing issues, said Deus Kibamba, chairman of Jukwaa la Katiba Tanzania, a coalition of civil society organisations interested in promoting Constitutional Democracy in Tanzania through broad public participation.

"The president has announced publicly that next month [he] is forming the Constitution Review Commission, which will collect views from Tanzanians of different walks… this is the time we have been waiting for, and the nation starts the process of being reborn," Kibamba told Sabahi.

The move to write a new constitution has been a contentious issue in Tanzania, especially with regard to the role of the central government and local governments. The new constitution is expected to address the possible reinstatement of a Tanganyika government, to exist alongside the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar.

In 1964, the island of Zanzibar united with mainland Tanganyika to form the United Republic of Tanzania. With the merger, the government of Tanganyika was absorbed into Tanzania's union government, but the Zanzibar government continued to function.

Under the current constitution, the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar is semi-autonomous and has jurisdiction over local matters except 22 union matters which include fiscal policy, foreign affairs, defence and security, emergency powers, immigration, the national debt and trade.

The ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), has expressed support for the current system, but almost all opposition parties demand the government of Tanganyika be restored.

"The citizens have the right to decide whether they like our policy of two governments or that of the opposition which advocates for three governments," CCM Ideology and Publicity Secretary Nape Nnauye told Sabahi. "But our reasons are clear on this; it is very expensive to run three governments, [so] we better continue with the current two governments," he said.

Zitto Kabwe, deputy secretary general for opposition party Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA), told Sabahi that constitutional reforms are overdue and represent the only way to restore the nation's hope and help grow the economy. Kabwe said CHADEMA will campaign for the restoration of a local government of Tanganyika.

According to constitutional lawyer Sengondo Mvungi, additional items to be addressed in the new constitution are separation of powers, presidential powers, the right to education and healthcare, and the right to information.

Under the current system, Kibamba said, the president is also the chairman of the ruling party and leads party meetings including those to nominate the speaker of the National Assembly. The president also appoints the chief justice and judges.

Kibamba called for the right to education and healthcare to be legally enforceable as is the right to life. "Even if someone just threatens to kill you, the constitution stands on your defence. We want the same magnitude to apply for education and health of the citizens of Tanzania," Kibamba said.

Tanzania Teachers Union President Gratian Mkoba told Sabahi that teachers account for 56% of government employees, yet five separate government departments manage them, making it cumbersome and inefficient. He said his association is campaigning for a special section in the constitution to establish a Teachers Service Commission similar to that in Kenya.

Executive Secretary for the Media Council of Tanzania (MCT) Kajubi Mukajanga said the current constitution provides general guidelines to the right of information, but fails specifically to guarantee the freedom of the press. MCT has appointed a five-person committee to draft proposed clauses to be submitted to the Constitutional Review Commission for consideration as well.

Kikwete has said the new constitution would ready by April 2014 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the union Tanganyika and Zanzibar.