Recent Bunge seen‘most chaotic’

[BAK]

By BILHAM KIMATI, 21st April 2011 @ 13:03,

THE Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) has singled out use of 'abusive language' and poor attendance as some of the glaring shortcomings that tainted the third meeting of the 10th Parliamentary session.

An LHRC report classified the session that ended in Dodoma on April 16, this year as the most chaotic ever, whereby MPs clearly flouted parliamentary regulations.

Unveiling the report in Dar es Salaam on Thursday, the Acting LHRC Director, Ms Imelda Urio said lack of discipline in the House disappointed the electorate and the entire public because legislators were expected to fulfil their obligations as committed people's representatives.

"Booing and uttering provocative remarks like 'close the doors, let us fight,' or 'let them go to Loliondo for the healing cup,' were unwarranted and a waste of precious House time,' she said.

Section 64 (g) of the parliamentary regulations prohibits making derogatory remarks in the House.

"Self esteem improves individual's credibility. The status of the National Assembly must be honoured," Ms Urio said.

On poor legislator attendance, particularly during the debate session prior to approval of the tabled Bills, Ms Urio cautioned on the possibility of 'blind' endorsement of Bills which could result in regrets.

"Sometimes passing of a Bill requires voting. Ironically, legislators who were absent throughout the debate sessions became active during voting. This is dangerous," says the report.

The LHRC also underlined proper co-ordination of crucial national debates to allow full participation of stakeholders, rather than organizing debates for two different Bills at the same time.

"The Public Procurement Bill 2010 debate, for example was held at Karimjee Hall while that of the Miscellaneous Amendment Bill 2011 was held at the Speaker's office in Dar es Salaam at the same time, earlier this month," she noted.

The report also highlighted on what was referred to as frivolous time spending during which MPs spent too much time conveying congratulatory messages instead of dwelling on issues of national interest.

The presentation of Bills under certificate of urgency was pinpointed as yet another shortcoming. Three out of five bills tabled in the National Assembly were presented under certificate of urgency.

"The arrangement denied many stakeholders the right to share views on issues affecting their lives," part of the report reads.

The three Bills tabled under certificate of urgency are the Constitutional Review Bill, 2011, the Judiciary Administration Bill, 2011 and the Miscellaneous Amendment Bill, 2011.

The LHRC urged the Speaker Ms Anne Makinda to reinforce House regulations, without hesitating to take disciplinary measures against defiant MPs.

"Legislators should not be carried away by party ideologies lest they concentrated on trivial issues rather than matters of national importance," the report says.

On whether the large number of opposition legislators could have contributed to the pulsating parliamentary session, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Job Ndugai said majority of legislators were newcomers in the House and that itself was enough to cause a stir.

"Nearly 70 per cent of the legislators were newcomers. Besides, some of the legislators perhaps failed to differentiate between parliamentary sessions from election campaigns," Mr Ndugai observed.

The Deputy Speaker commended the LHRC for their constructive criticism saying in the course of time, legislators would adjust to the House environment while administrators would make sure discipline was observed to the letter.

"Those who violated parliamentary regulations and switched on microphones to utter derogative remarks have apologized to the Speaker and pledged obedience to established regulations," Mr Ndugai revealed.

As for certificate of urgency, Mr Ndugai said such Bills were tabled after assessment of the urgency depending on the circumstances .

 

[Nyunyu]

What do you expect with Makinda?!!!

Mama anaonekana kupwaya kabsa...

 

[Byendangwero]

The views expressed herein are too simplistic as they donot go to the root of the problem. Ideally a Speaker of parliament is supporsed to carry out his responsibility in an impartial manner. Unfortunately right from the word go, the current Speaker has shown to be inclineg to use her position to promote the interest of his party. Accordingly, whenever his party's interest is in conflict with the public interest she is inclined to act in favour of the former. That being the case in the last parliament she allowed all the bills presented to be rushed out, in order to deny their proper scrutiny by the parliamentarians and the general public. Its in the light of that background that some parliamentarians who feel that there are not being treated fairly by the Speaker, have decided to come in the open to defend their rights. To some of us, that's an healthy development, the ball is now in the Speaker's court; if she want tranquility during parliamentary sessions she shoulnot only be fair but she should be seen to be strieving for the same.

 

[BAK]

Askofu: Bunge sasa ni kama shule ya msingi
Imeandikwa na Halima Mlacha; Tarehe: 24th April 2011
Habari Leo

ASKOFU Mkuu wa Anglikana Tanzania, Valentino Mokiwa amewashukia wabunge kwa tabia yao ya kuzomeana wakati vikao vya Bunge hilo vikiendelea, akisema hali hiyo inawashushia heshima ya uwakilishi wa wananchi waliyonayo.

Pia Askofu huyo ameweka bayana kuwa anachukizwa na kitendo cha mgawo wa umeme na kuitaka Serikali kuacha kuegemea zaidi katika uzalishaji umeme wa maji kwa kuwa ukosefu wa umeme pamoja na kuchangia kurudisha maendeleo, pia ni chanzo cha ukosefu wa amani nchini.

Akizungumza katika Ibada ya Misa ya Pasaka katika Kanisa la Mtakatifu Albano Dayosisi ya Dar es Salaam, amesema kwa sasa vyombo vingi vya Dola vimekuwa vikitenda mambo kinyume cha taratibu zinazotakiwa, jambo ambalo pamoja na kuvishushia hadhi, pia linachangia kuleta machafuko ya amani.

"Sote tumeshuhudia juzi namna Bunge lilivyopoteza thamani na heshima yake na kuwa kama shule ya msingi, wabunge wanazomeana kama watoto wadogo, natamani Mwalimu Nyerere angekuwa hai….lazima angetembeza mikwaju ndani ya Bunge hili," alisema Askofu Mokiwa na kuongeza kuwa anampenda Nyerere kwa sifa na uongozi wake.

Kauli ya Askofu Mokiwa imekuja wakati hivi karibuni Kituo cha Sheria na Haki za Binadamu (LHRC), kilimtaka Spika wa Bunge kutumia wadhifa wake na Kanuni za Bunge kama rungu ili kulinda heshima bungeni kutokana na tathmini ya Mkutano wa Tatu wa Bunge ambayo imebaini pamoja na mambo mengine, matumizi ya lugha chafu ya wabunge wakati wa vikao vya Bunge.

Aidha, Askofu Mokiwa alisema pamoja na Bunge, pia suala la kukatika mara kwa mara kwa umeme huku sababu zikitolewa kuwa ni ukosefu wa mvua wakati gharama za matumizi ya umeme huo zikipanda kila kukicha, linachukiza na ni kero kubwa kwa Watanzania.

"Jamani mimi ni mdau mkubwa ninayekerwa na tabia hii ya umeme kukatwa bila taarifa halafu ukiuliza eti mvua hazijanyesha, ni upuuzi kuendelea kutegemea maji kama chanzo cha kuzalisha umeme wakati Tanzania ina malighafi nyingi za kuzalishia umeme huo," alisema.

Askofu Mokiwa pia alikemea tatizo la sasa la udini linalochangiwa na viongozi wenyewe wa dini pamoja na baadhi ya wanasiasa wanaong'ata na kupuliza katika kila dini, hali ambayo aliwataka Watanzania wajihadhari na viongozi wa aina hiyo na kutowasikiliza kwa kuwa mgawanyiko wa dini katika taifa ni hatari.

"Sasa hivi wana dini tunataka kuota pembe, ni kweli tunazo nguvu kubwa katika jamii hatuhitaji polisi wala Katiba, lakini tumeweka mbele ajenda ya kupondana kwa kutumia vyombo vya habari hali inayoleta mgawanyiko kwa Watanzania, pia wapo wanasiasa wanaharibu makanisani na misikitini," alisema.

Pamoja na hayo, alisema suala la ufisadi nalo kwa sasa limekuwa tishio kwa amani ya Tanzania kwa kuwa mtu yeyote mwenye mafanikio anapachikwa jina la ufisadi huku akitolea mfano wa viongozi ambao pamoja na mazuri waliofanya, lakini wanaitwa mafisadi kuwa ni Rais Mstaafu Benjamin Mkapa, Waziri wa Ujenzi John Magufuli, Waziri Mkuu Mstaafu Edward Lowassa na Mbunge wa Igunga Rostam Aziz.

Alisema iwapo viongozi hao na wengine waliotajwa ni mafisadi Tanzania ni nchi inayoendeshwa kisheria wachukuliwe hatua, lakini kitendo cha kuwataja hadharini bila ushahidi au hatua zozote ni dalili kuwa sasa nchi inaenda pabaya.

Alisema kutokana na mambo mengi yanayoizonga Tanzania na kuhatarisha amani, Mungu amewaona Watanzania na kuwaletea kikombe cha Samunge kinachotolewa na Mchungaji Mstaafu Ambilikile Mwaisapile na kuwataka waumini wa kanisa hilo kwenda Loliondo na kupata tiba hiyo kwa kuwa inaponesha kwa uwezo wa Mungu.

"Sisi kule kwetu Muheza tunachemshiwa ndula na kunywa na tunapona magonjwa mbalimbali sembuse

kikombe cha Samunge ambacho tena kinaombewa kwa jina la Mungu, nendeni mkanywe mpone kwa kuwa Mungu ametuona, huduma za kiafya kwa sasa ni mbovu na zikiendelea hivyo kikombe hiki kitafika hadi wodini," alisema.

Aliwatoa hofu wote wasioamini tiba hiyo ya kikombe cha Babu na kutoa mfano wa Askofu Mstaafu Gerald Mpango kuwa alikwenda Samunge akisumbuliwa na ugonjwa wa tezi katika
shingo na sasa amepona kwa uwezo wa Mungu.

Wakati akipongeza mabadiliko ya uongozi katika Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), alisema mambo mengine yanayovuruga amani nchini ni ushindani wa viongozi, kutopenda kutawaliwa au kuongozwa kwa baadhi ya watu, kujiamini au kutojiamini kupita kiasi, kupotea kwa kuheshimiana na matumizi mabaya ya demokrasia.

Alisema wakati Yesu Kristo alipofufuka aliwaambia wanafunzi wake amani iwe kwao, jambo ambalo Watanzania wanatakiwa walipe kipaumbele kwa chachu ya amani na kuipenda nchi yao na kukataa kuwa mashabiki wa machafuko yanayotokea Libya, Misri, Syria, Tunisia, Sudan na Somalia.