|
Human rightists, pressure groups want Sitta to resign
2007-08-18 09:46:51
By Jane Mkonya
Human rights activists and pressure groups yesterday pressed for the immediate resignation of Speaker of the National Assembly, Samwel Sitta, for what they termed as his failure to respect Parliamentary rules and regulations.
The activists issued a statement during a demonstration organised to protest the suspension of North-Kigoma legislator, Zitto Kabwe from Parliament.
The MP was voted out of Parliament on Tuesday after he had tabled a private motion asking the House to form a committee to probe the government`s contract with Barrick Gold, which the Minister for Energy and Minerals, Nazir Karamagi had admitted he signed in London in February.
During the procession, activists—FEMACT, Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP), Tanzania Media Women Association (TAMWA), Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) and other Dar residents, accused Sitta of running the Parliament basing on experience of long-serving legislators and not in accordance with its rules and regulations.
TGNP Executive Director, Usu Malya said Zitto`s suspension was against the laid down Parliamentary rules and regulations, and lacked locus standi to justify it.
`Suspending Zitto for four months has adverse implications to the country. It means that voices of Kigoma residents will not be heard in Parliament for the whole period,` she added.
Activist, Beatrice Ezekiel said that experienced MPs in the House had been resisting changes being brought by the young blood, and this had greatly affected the conduct of Parliament.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly yesterday warned people who call themselves as activists to be careful with the words they utter on thesuspension of the Kigoma North MP.
A press statement issued in Dar es Salaam by the Clerk of the National Assembly Damian Foka said: `The National Assembly warns people who call themselves human rights activists to be careful with their words.
Their words aim at misleading the public on Parliament’s decision over the legislator.`
He said some words used by the activists violated the law on Parliamentary Privileges, Ethics and Powers, adding that the same would not hesitate to take legal action against them.
Foka said there were lots of complaints in the media from people who called themselves human rights activists who attacked Parliament over the decision to suspend the MP.
The statement retaliated that, the suspension of Kabwe was a fair decision as it followed proper procedures according to the Assembly’s Standing Orders.
|
