CSOs: Spekaer seat abuse parliamentary principles

LHRC Executive Director Dr Hellen Kijo Bisimba

 

 By Elisha Magolanga

Dar es Salaam. Civil Society Organization's yesterday said that party’s favoritism done by the Speaker seat has dropped moral value of the parliamentary before the community.

Also, the parliament principles number 115 and 116 (8) which are in accordance with the constitution, the Speaker has no power to break some important parliament committees including the Public Organisations Account Committee (POAC).

The statement has come after Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) and The Citizens’ Parliament Watch (CPW) conduct a close follow-up on the 10^th on-going parliamentary sessions that was ended last week.

The study conducted by joint organisation has revealed that the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and some of chairpersons of parliamentary sessions have been abusing the seat aggressively resulting in failure to run the parliament in a stable condition.

In contrast, the CSO have congratulated parliament session’s chairperson, Ms Jenista Mhagama that has been improving significant changes in the management of parliamentary sessions following the parliamentary principles mounted without bias.

In the 10^th parliament session ended last week, the Opposition geared up to table a no-confidence vote against the Speaker Anne Makinda and her deputy, Job Ndugai, allegedly for favouritism. Allegations came after Ms Makinda and Mr Ndugai recently quashed private motions by Ubungo MP, Mr John Mnyika (Chadema) and nominated MP, Mr James Mbatia. The latter doubles, as chairman of another opposition party, NCCR-Mageuzi. 

MPs from Chadema, NCCR Mageuzi and Tanzania Labour Party said to be “disappointed” by the way the two are handling House affairs and have vowed to invoke parliamentary standing orders to table a motion of no-confidence against the two officials.

Addressing Journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, LHRC Executive Director Dr Hellen Kijo Bisimba said that although the 2011 and 2012 CPW report recommended the Speaker seat should manage principles without biases, the organisation has realised there still some weakness that should be addressed, and congratulate Ms Mhagama for her improvement as the report recommended.

On the side of breaking parliamentary committee Dr Bisimba said "POAC has broken at the middle process of Mtwara gas contracts which had begun to be addressed, also it has ordered to prevent social security funds to lend to government without contracts agreement between the bags and the government,”

She added that in the 10^th parliament three important motions from opposition parties were burned in unsatisfactory conditions while two from the ruling party were agreed without any opposition. 

“The rejected three motions suggested by opposition were very crucial for Tanzanian future. These include education curriculums, water supply in Dar es Salaam city and the motion on the trends of the National Examinations Council of Tanzania,” she noted.

Furthermore, poor MPs attendance was among the problems that affect decision making in the parliament. Dr. Bisimba added, “In 6^th of February 2013, the Bunge failed to provide declaration to join two international contracts because of small number of MPs attended.

“The government has lost Sh 321,300,00 due to useless of 12 hours without parliamentary session while more than 82 government and CSO professionals stayed without job spending government money in Dodoma for clarification on the international contracts,” 

The Organisations has urged MPs to understand that their presence in the parliament is for the public interest and not for their parties. Also, the seat has advised to put priority on motions that touch the human life instead of political fanaticism.