Dar es Salaam – Opposition leaders in Tanzania are increasing pressure on President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government to provide a clear and comprehensive roadmap for the revival of the nation’s constitutional reform process.
The calls for a formal timetable come after the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party included a pledge in its 2025-2030 election manifesto to deliver a new constitution by 2030, which Samia, as its presidential candidate, promoted.
In a recent parliamentary session on January 28, 2026, Ado Shaibu, a Member of Parliament for the opposition ACT-Wazalendo party, urged the government to move beyond promises and present a detailed schedule for the constitutional review.
“We want the government to come up with a full timetable in this Parliament on how the new constitution process will be conducted,” Mr Shaibu stated. He emphasised that a piecemeal approach would not be sufficient to address the fundamental issues at stake.
The opposition has proposed a five-step process for the constitutional review, which includes the review of existing laws governing the process, a national sovereign conference to build consensus, the establishment of a committee of experts to draft the new constitution, and a national referendum to approve the final document.
The demand for a new constitution has been a recurring theme in Tanzanian politics for decades. The current constitution, enacted in 1977, is seen by many as outdated and a relic of the country’s one-party state era.
Critics argue that it grants excessive powers to the executive branch, lacks sufficient checks and balances, and fails to guarantee a truly independent electoral commission.
President Samia, who came to power in March 2021 and was re-elected in the disputed 2025 elections, has expressed her commitment to overseeing a process of national dialogue and reconciliation, which she has stated will precede the constitutional reforms.
In a speech to diplomats on January 15, 2026, she pledged to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address past grievances, including the political violence that marred the October 2025 general election.
However, opposition figures and civil society activists are concerned that the government’s focus on reconciliation may be used to delay the constitutional reform process. They argue that a new constitution is essential to prevent future political crises and ensure a more democratic and accountable government.
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The last attempt to introduce a new constitution was initiated by former President Jakaya Kikwete in 2011. A constitutional review commission, led by former Prime Minister Joseph Warioba, produced a draft constitution that was widely praised for its progressive proposals.
However, the process stalled in 2014 amid political disagreements, particularly over the structure of the union between mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
As the government navigates the delicate balance between national healing and constitutional reform, the opposition’s demand for a clear timetable is likely to intensify.
The coming months will be a crucial test of President Samia’s commitment to fulfilling her party’s manifesto promise and delivering a new constitution that meets the aspirations of the Tanzanian people.
