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Opposition MPs walk out of House over `muafaka`
2008-04-09 09:47:43
By Judica Tarimo, Dodoma
Opposition legislators yesterday stormed out of the National Assembly protesting what they saw as dilly-dallying by the ruling CCM over the endorsement of the Zanzibar peace accord.
A team comprising senior representatives of both the ruling party and the opposition Civic United Front (CUF) recently completed drawn-out negotiations meant to end the protracted political stand-off in the Isles.
The team`s recommendations, which included having a coalition government in Zanzibar, were handed over to both parties recently.
At the centre of yesterday`s walkout is the decision by the CCM-National Executive Committee (NEC) just over a week ago to refuse to endorse this particular recommendation.
It instead opted for a referendum on the matter, saying choosing the system of government to use was too sensitive an issue to be handled without due caution.
Shortly before the question-and-answer session, House Speaker Samwel Sitta announced: ``The Leader of the Official Opposition (CUF’s Hamad Rashid Mohamed) came to my residence this morning and told me that opposition MPs would not participate in the National House business – that they would be protesting delays by CCM in endorsing the `muafaka` (reconciliation) agreement.``
Addressing a news conference here shortly after the walk-out, Mohamed said they were expressing their disagreement with CCM`s ``disrespect to the agreement``.
``Opposition MPs have walked out of the House to express dissatisfaction over the way the CCM-led government has handled the `muafaka` talks,` he said, thanking the rest of the opposition camp in the House for supporting us``.
The walkout involved MPs from both CUF, whose rejection of the results of the 2000 and 2005 general elections in the Isles led to the standoff, and other opposition political parties.
President Jakaya Kikwete promised in his inaugural speech to the National Assembly soon after assuming power in late 2005 that he would leave no stone unturned in finding a lasting solution to the Zanzibar impasse.
Opposition MPs say CCM-NEC has come up with a new idea (referendum), which they said was not on the agenda of the `muafaka` talks.
As the two parties continue trading accusations over the controversy, CUF legislators yesterday decided to move to the party`s head office in Dar es Salaam for what was described as ``special and different assignments`` aimed at pushing for the implementation of the `muafaka` pact.
``Some MPs will leave Dodoma today and others tomorrow.
Some legislators will be deployed to assess the state of security in Zanzibar. We are told life-threatening posters are circulating in the Isles,`` said Rashid.
He said there were reports that unidentified people have been circulating inflammatory posters in Zanzibar streets, most directing people hailing from Pemba Island to move out or risk being in trouble.
Hamad said CUF legislators would not return here for House business ``before completing their assignment of assessing the security situation in the Isles and laying down a sold groundwork for the implementation of the stalled agreement``.
``I cannot say when exactly we will come back to the Housebut I have to conclude these crucial tasks,`` he pointed out.
Shortly after the walkout, CCM lawmaker Hassan Rajab Khatib (Amani) asked the Speaker: ``Under which parliamentary standing orders do our honourable colleagues walk out of the House while it is in session? If there are no regulations on that, what disciplinary action will be taken against them?``
``The National Assembly is a public instrument and the opposition MPs have merely expressed their concern over a public issue (the `muafaka` pact). Maybe they thought this is the ideal forum from which to address the public on the matter. But I will communicate with their leader and get more details.``
Dr Samson Mpanda (Kilwa North - CCM) then sought to know why the Leader of the Official Opposition went to the Speaker`s residence ``unofficially`` and informed him (Speaker) about the protest instead of going to the Speaker`s office.
``The Speaker is a public leader and should be available at any time and place. There is no problem about that,`` Sitta shot back.
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