Mzee Mwanakijiji
Platinum Member
- Mar 10, 2006
- 33,474
- 39,987
Madam Speaker,
Congratulations on your election to become the Speaker of our National Assembly. Your historic election has come at the right moment and signals that hard work, diligence, and dedication to duty ultimately pays off. I join other Tanzanians in celebrating this "national moment" as the Fifth Republic is beginning to take shape.
Madam Speaker, your gratitude words this morning prompted me (and possibly others) to sit for a moment and take your words seriously in order to understand your vision for the Parliament towards 2015 and beyond. One common thought has occurred in your pre-election words, on your election and in your first press conference which is "unity of the parliament". In different words you have signaled that you will lead the House in such a way that unity of decision is reached. In other words as I understood you correctly dissent and diversity will have their limits and at the end conformity will have an upper hand.
Madam Speaker, I totally believe that if this is the vision you have for the Parliament and the country as you have implied then it is the wrong vision. It will lead into curbing the democratic progress we have made in the past few years, will usher an era of political intimidation and humiliation, and will force Members of Parliament to try to conform to this "Speaker's standard" which I believe is undemocratic and if not checked will lead to the rise of the tyranny of the political minority.
Madam Speaker, democracy is created, maintained and nourished by the presence of dissent and diversity of thoughts. This must be more true in the People's House. For it is here where their rightful representatives of the people gather to discuss, argue, oppose, support different positions and ultimately create our laws. It is here then where diversity must be desired and guaranteed by the Speaker. It is here where Tanzanians of all works of life must learn to see political opposition as part of that same unity and not an enemy to true unity. If we all think alike, agree on everything, and dissent is despised as "anti-unity" then we would all become automatons of sort. We must not let that happen.
I understand your duty to your political party and to see that the Parliament must be functioning in a very higher standard of accountability and discipline. I absolutely agree with you that our Parliament can not and must not be allowed to be a House of Chaos where old grudges and vendettas are resolved or where unending allegations against other people are made under the guise of parliamentary immunity. I believe if the aim is to reach a standard where when true allegations are made then the full extent of parliamentary powers will be used to reach a just and transparent decision. If this is your definition of "unity of parliament" I absolutely agree with you.
Madam Speaker, as you start your historic tenure I believe that you will defend democratic principles as you have been sworn to. You were not sworn to "defend or protect" the Constitution of your ruling party nor to protect the interests of few individuals or a group of people but the Constitution of Our Republic. As I watched you take an absolute oath this morning I believe that you really meant every single word you uttered. It is for this reason, I believe your tenure will not just be historic in nature but at the end history itself will judge your tenure kindly.
Once again, congratulations and God Speed as your start this journeyl. I'm wishing you and your family good health and Providential Wisdom to lead our people with fairness, love and justice no matter the cost.
May God Bless Tanzania
May God Bless Africa!
Congratulations on your election to become the Speaker of our National Assembly. Your historic election has come at the right moment and signals that hard work, diligence, and dedication to duty ultimately pays off. I join other Tanzanians in celebrating this "national moment" as the Fifth Republic is beginning to take shape.
Madam Speaker, your gratitude words this morning prompted me (and possibly others) to sit for a moment and take your words seriously in order to understand your vision for the Parliament towards 2015 and beyond. One common thought has occurred in your pre-election words, on your election and in your first press conference which is "unity of the parliament". In different words you have signaled that you will lead the House in such a way that unity of decision is reached. In other words as I understood you correctly dissent and diversity will have their limits and at the end conformity will have an upper hand.
Madam Speaker, I totally believe that if this is the vision you have for the Parliament and the country as you have implied then it is the wrong vision. It will lead into curbing the democratic progress we have made in the past few years, will usher an era of political intimidation and humiliation, and will force Members of Parliament to try to conform to this "Speaker's standard" which I believe is undemocratic and if not checked will lead to the rise of the tyranny of the political minority.
Madam Speaker, democracy is created, maintained and nourished by the presence of dissent and diversity of thoughts. This must be more true in the People's House. For it is here where their rightful representatives of the people gather to discuss, argue, oppose, support different positions and ultimately create our laws. It is here then where diversity must be desired and guaranteed by the Speaker. It is here where Tanzanians of all works of life must learn to see political opposition as part of that same unity and not an enemy to true unity. If we all think alike, agree on everything, and dissent is despised as "anti-unity" then we would all become automatons of sort. We must not let that happen.
I understand your duty to your political party and to see that the Parliament must be functioning in a very higher standard of accountability and discipline. I absolutely agree with you that our Parliament can not and must not be allowed to be a House of Chaos where old grudges and vendettas are resolved or where unending allegations against other people are made under the guise of parliamentary immunity. I believe if the aim is to reach a standard where when true allegations are made then the full extent of parliamentary powers will be used to reach a just and transparent decision. If this is your definition of "unity of parliament" I absolutely agree with you.
Madam Speaker, as you start your historic tenure I believe that you will defend democratic principles as you have been sworn to. You were not sworn to "defend or protect" the Constitution of your ruling party nor to protect the interests of few individuals or a group of people but the Constitution of Our Republic. As I watched you take an absolute oath this morning I believe that you really meant every single word you uttered. It is for this reason, I believe your tenure will not just be historic in nature but at the end history itself will judge your tenure kindly.
Once again, congratulations and God Speed as your start this journeyl. I'm wishing you and your family good health and Providential Wisdom to lead our people with fairness, love and justice no matter the cost.
May God Bless Tanzania
May God Bless Africa!
