Who can initiate an optional referendum at the national level?

THEREFERENDUM ACT, 2013

http://www.parliament.go.tz/assets/uploads/files/47716-A-BILL---THE-REFERENDUM-.pdf

CONDUCT OFREFERENDUM

Power to initiatea referendum

4.-(1) Wherethe President is of the opinion that it is necessary and desirable to hold areferendum in order to  ascertain theviews of the people on any issue, he shall by order published in the  Gazette, direct the Commission to conduct areferendum on that issue.

 (2)  Where  the  issue to  be  ascertained by  the referendum relates to aunion matter, the President shall, in consultation  with  the President  of  Zanzibar, by  order published in the  Gazette, direct that a referendum on that issuebe conducted.

 (3) An order for a referendum shall be as setout in Form No.1 of the First Schedule to this Act, and shall -

(a)  specify the issue to be determined; and

(b)  specify the  period  within which  a  referendum shall be held.

 (4)  For  the  purpose of  subsection  (3), the Commission shall issue a notice published in the  Gazette specifying  the question  to  be  put  to voters  framed  as  to requirethe answer “Yes” or “No” in a referendum asset out in Form No.2 of the FirstSchedule to this Act.

5.-(1)   Without prejudice  to  the provisions  of  the National Elections  Act,  the Commission  shall  be responsible for-

(a)  supervision of   the  general conduct  of  a referendum; and

(b)  promotion and regulation of voters’ educationfor the referendum.

 (2)  During  the  conduct of  a  referendum, the Commission  shall  not be  subject  to the  direction  or control of any person or authority.

 (3)  Where  the  issue for  a  referendum is  a  union matter, the  Commission  shall, in  exercising  the powers conferred  to  it by  this  section, act  in  collaboration with the Zanzibar Electoral Commission.