Tanzanian wins CALC African seat
DODOMA: Tanzanian Ms Rehema Katuga from the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Draftsman (OCPD) has emerged victorious in the election of members to the Council of the Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel (CALC), becoming one of Africa’s representatives on the council.
The council, which has two representatives from each continent, oversees and makes key decisions regarding the operations of the professional association for legislative drafting experts in Commonwealth member countries.
Ms Rehema Katuga serves as OCPD’s director of revision, research and training and was endorsed for the post during association’s General Meeting held in Singapore recently.
OCPD’s statement issued in Dodoma over the weekend noted that Ms Katuga emerged victorious in an election that involved four candidates from Africa, including two candidates from South Africa, one from Namibia and herself as the sole candidate from Tanzania, enabling Tanzania to secure representation in the important professional body.
In the statement, Ms Katuga was quoted as saying the association is among the professional bodies affiliated with the Commonwealth and plays a key role in strengthening cooperation among legislative drafting experts in member countries.
“CALC aims to strengthen the capacity of legislative drafting professionals to prepare quality legislation that can translate government policies into laws and support various reforms needed in countries. It also emphasises cooperation in training, exchange of experience, attachment programmes, the use of technology in legislative drafting and the promotion of best practices in legislative drafting,” Ms Katuga explained.
She explained that the body has a governing council which comprises senior leaders and representatives from different continents.
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“Together, we contribute to providing direction and making decisions concerning the development of the legislative drafting profession,” she noted.
The Tanzanian and African representative said the position would enable her to help create opportunities for Tanzania and Africa as a whole to strengthen cooperation among legislative drafting professionals, exchange knowledge and experience with other Commonwealth countries, as well as learn and adopt modern best practices in legislative drafting.
She further said she is expected to play an active role in connecting legislative drafting professionals across Africa, promoting the profession and contributing to efforts to improve the quality of legislation through professional, clear and effective drafting.
For Tanzania, the representation also increases the country’s opportunity to participate in international discussions on the development of the legislative drafting profession and benefit from training opportunities, capacity building for professionals in the field, as well as the exchange of technology and expertise.
