"Civil Society Coalition in Tanzania"

On the 16^th June 2015 the Government of Tanzania presented 3 bills to Parliament under certificate of urgency relating to the extractive sector.These bills includes The Tanzania Extractive Industries (Transparency and Accountability) Act 2015, The Oil and Gas Revenue Management Act 2015 and The Petroleum Act 2015. These laws are important pieces in strengthening extractive sector management as well as promoting socio economic development for Tanzanians. While it is our hope that the bills will focus on achieving these noble objectives as well accommodate the concerns and contributions of the stakeholders, citizens and legislators; WE, the civil society coalition in Tanzania would like to register our concerns and reservations with regards to the flaws in the process and specific weaknesses in the contents of the said bills.

[Tabling of the bills under the certificate of urgency]...hinders inclusive, open and informed participation of the citizens, industry stakeholders and legislators. It has now become a norm in Tanzania to rush such important laws through Parliament under certificate of Urgency. The recent examples being The Mining Act 1998 and 2010 which were passed hurriedly before they  became centre of criticism for the shortcomings.