Teddy Ladislaus
was busy preparing to sit her end of semester University Examination
(UE) when she heard the good news that she had been appointed as member
of the National Constituent Assembly.
The Assembly, scheduled for next week in Dodoma,
will scrutinise the second Draft Constitution prepared by the
Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) under the chairmanship fo Judge
Joseph Warioba.
“A friend was following the announcing of the
names on television that day…I had no idea and was busy making
preparations for the exams,” she says adding, “He called…I was shocked
and excited, but did not want to show it openly to my friends who were
also very excited.”
At 22, Ms Teddy is already making a name for
herself at the national stage, after President Jakaya Kikwete appointed
her last week among 201 Tanzanians to join 357 members of Parliament and
80 Representatives from Zanzibar in the all-important convention in the
history of the country.
The third year Bachelor of Science in Information
and Communication Technology student at Mzumbe University now says she
has been given huge responsibility: To represent other Tanzanians in the
Assembly. Her main role in the Constituent Assembly, she says, will be
to speak the voice of the youth.
“We are going to make a Constitution for all Tanzanians…I will represent them.”
Ms Teddy says she will advocate the voice of the
youth to be heard and that she is going to Dodoma to push for an
inclusion of a clause that will give the youth a platform to present
issues of their concern. She wants the youth’s voice heard through the
National Assembly.
The youthful and vibrant student says it was about
time the country recognised the role the youth can play to bring the
desired changes. She wants the education curricula from the lower to the
higher level to prepare the youth to build the nation.
“I will address all these issues when the time
comes…the youth need to be assured of getting employment and the years
spent in internship should be recognised as experience, unlike now where
employers unfairly want fresh from college applicants to be
experienced.”
She also thinks that the provision that
parliamentary candidates should have attained 21 years was unfounded
since if at 18 years one is allowed to vote, there is no reason why one
should not contest an election.
Born in Dodoma in 1992, Teddy has already travelled in different parts of the world representing the youth in different forums.
“Being a leader in different positions within my
university and the community at large I have learnt and experienced
expertise in leadership and managerial skills and thus I am confident
and determined when it comes to attaining a specific vision,” she says.
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