Ambassador Karume made the statement when speaking to journalists in Zanzibar yesterday, saying it was wrong to consider personal interests in the matter, adding that the five-year term was enough.
“It is not healthy for the country to just make changes to the constitution because even the late founding father of Tanzania Julius Nyerere made it clear that the constitution is a sensitive document,” he said.
He said the changes will bring crisis to the constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania as Members of Parliament from Zanzibar will need their terms increased despite their election being overseen by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) law.
“If we increase term for the current president, another one will come and want to increase theirs and no one will deny this because we have set the precedent,” he said.
Karume said it was not safe for a high-ranking leader like general secretary to utter such a statement suggesting that the party’s secretariat initiate the process to increase presidential term limit.
Dimwa had said that the issue was not up for debate and would be done without the president being asked because he had shown ability to bring development to the people of Zanzibar since taking office.
Amb. Karume, speaking on the 60 years of Zanzibar Revolution, said that there have been improvements in various sectors such as health, education, transport and communication in both islands of Unguja and Pemba.
However, he said that corruption was on the rise in Zanzibar, citing the report by the Controller and Auditor General (CAG).
He said that despite a number of people being linked to allegations of corruption, legal actions are still difficult to be taken due to the fact that “they know each other”.
The statement by the CCM cadre sparked debate among politicians and activists, some of whom have said that if CCM allows it, it may disrupt the foundations set by the founders of the party.
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