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Rostam`s intended defence provokes heated House
2008-04-17 10:44:58
By Judica Tarimo and Lydia Shekighenda in Dodoma
A heated debate ensued in Parliament yesterday, as Deputy Speaker Anna Makinda and two opposition legislators argued on Igunga MP Rostam Aziz`s attempt to defend himself in the National Assembly.
Rostam has been implicated in the Richmond corruption scandal by the findings of the House Select Committee on the Richmond power-generation agreement. The select committee was led by Dr Harrison Mwakyembe.
Rostam Aziz was due to present his formal defence in the House during the on-going session, but was barred from doing so.
The legislator has denied his involvement in the scandal, and demanded to be given a chance to submit his defence to the House.
In his written response, Rostam Aziz is said to have questioned the time-frame used by the select committee to investigate the scandal that resulted into the resignation of former Prime Minister Edward Lowassa and two cabinet ministers. The entire cabinet was subsequently dissolved.
Initially, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Samuel Sitta, had asked the Igunga MP to submit his response in accordance with Parliamentary standing orders.
However, the House Steering Committee, upon receiving Rostam Aziz`s written submission, disallowed him from presenting his submission.
Two opposition legislators told Parliament yesterday that Rostam had been prevented to respond by his CCM party in order to protect the party.
The two MPs questioned the grounds used to restrain the MP from making a formal response.
``How can a political party prevent an MP from presenting his written views, which have already been presented to Parliamentary organs?`` the leader of opposition, Hamad Rashid, asked Deputy Speaker Anna Makinda.
Responding, Makinda said that Rostam`s motion submitted to the Steering Committee was more or less the same as his explanation recorded by the Hansard information system.
``According to standing orders, an MP is not allowed to present a private motion, which contains similar information to that he had submitted to a parliamentary committee,`` said Makinda.
At that point, outspoken Kigoma-North MP Zitto Kabwe rose, pointing an accusing finger at the Deputy Speaker for what he said was the twisting of parliamentary standing orders in deliberate move to defend interests of the ruling party (CCM).
``You must declare your interest in this issue. According to the explanation you have just given us, it clearly shows that you are defending the interests of your party,`` said Kabwe.
The MP described Deputy Speaker`s explanations as unsatisfactory. He demanded that Rostam`s submission be sent back to the Parliamentary Steering Committee for further scrutiny and deliberation.
CCM MP Anna Abdalah (Special-Seats) then stood up, and asked Kabwe what interest did the opposition MPs have in the ruling party.
In response, the Speaker said: ``We (MPs) are all here to protect interests of Tanzanians and not political parties.
Both CCM and opposition legislators are free to present their private motions and views on various issues in Parliament, as required by the parliamentary standing orders.``
The Speaker criticized sweeping presentation of private motions.
She asked MPs to follow rules, regulations, and procedures in preparing the motions.
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