HAWA NDIO WALIOLETA KIZAAZAA JANA BUNGENI DODOMA

 

The House yesterday banned five opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) from attending the remaining sessions of the ongoing Parliamentary meeting for indiscipline, including obstructing the Legislature from executing its duties.

 

This means that the five lawmakers have been banned from attending the sessions until the end of the 20th House’s lifetime that comes to an end on Thursday next week when it will be dissolved by President Jakaya Kikwete.

 

The decision was announced by Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Privileges, Ethics and Powers Brig Hassan Ngwilizi after his committee summoned the MPs for questioning.

 

The MPs who have been banned are Opposition Chief Whip Tundu Lissu (Singida East-Chadema), John Mnyika (Ubungo-Chadema), Moses Machali (Kasulu Town-NCCR-Mageuzi), Felix Mkosamali (Muhambwe- NCCR Mageuzi) and Pauline Gekul (Special Seats –Chadema).

 

Two opposition MPs, according to Ngwilizi, would miss two sessions. They are Rajab Mohamed Mbarouk (Ole-CUF) and Peter Msigwa (Iringa Urban-Chadema).

 

Three opposition MPs have been summoned to appear today before the committee for questioning after the trio failed to appear yesterday. They are:

 Joseph Selasini (Rombo-Chadema) , Khalifa Suleiman Khalifa (Gando-CUF) and Rashid Ali Abdallah (Tumbe –CUF). 

 

Speaking to the press Lissu said they had no problem with the punishment. However, he said it was sad that the committee issued the verdict without giving them the right to be heard. The committee questioned the opposition MPs after chaos re-surfaced in the National Assembly yesterday morning prompting Speaker Anne Makinda to temporarily suspend parliament proceedings.

 

 It all started when Energy and Minerals Minister, George Simbachawene was making his presentations before tabling of the three bills on oil and gas, shortly after the House endorsed the Whistle blowers and Witness Protection Act, 2015.

 

To express their objection over tabling of the bills, the opposition MPs led by Singida East legislator, Tundu Lissu (Chadema) decided  to keep standing while the parliament session was going on, against the rules and regulations of the House.

 

Postponing the session, Makinda said: “I have noted all of you…I want you to report to the Parliamentary Privileges, Ethics and Powers Committee. We cannot continue this way,” said Speaker Makinda as she mentioned the names of the opposition MPs who are said to be the ring leaders.

 

Makinda named them  as Tundu Lissu (Singida East-Chadema), John Mnyika (Ubungo-Chadema), Moses Machali (Kasulu Town-NCCR-Mageuzi), Rajab Mohamed Mbarouk (Ole-CUF), Rashid Ali Abdallah (Tumbe –CUF), David Silinde (Mbozi-West-Chadema), Pauline Gekul (Special Seats –Chadema), Felix Mkosamali (Muhambwe- NCCR Mageuzi) Joseph Selasini (Rombo-Chadema), Khalifa Suleiman Khalifa (Gando-CUF), and Peter Msigwa (Iringa Urban-Chadema).

 

Speaking to Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) legislators, State Minister, President’s Office (Coordination, Policy and Parliamentary Affairs), Jenister Mhagama assured them that the government will not suspend tabling of the three bills.

 

“We shall continue with tabling of the bills,” she said. 

In his address to opposition MPs inside the House, Singida East Member of Parliament, Tundu Lissu insisted to maintain their stand to oppose tabling of the bills. 

 

He said they don’t want the country to repeat the mistakes done in 1997, whereas most of the contracts signed with mining companies favoured the investors.

 

“What transpired here today was arranged overnight…we were aware of the actions that Speaker Makinda planned to take against us,” he said adding that they are not ready to support endorsement of the bills that are of no benefit to wananchi.

 

Meanwhile, Shadow Minister for Energy and Minerals, John Mnyika claimed that he was not involved in preparation of the bills. He said as the responsible Minister he was not involved in the learning tours that the government claims to have taken its officials. 

 

He insisted that what they were doing was for the benefit of the future generation because even if the bills are passed in this meeting; it will take not less than five years for Tanzanians to benefit from the resources. “I wasn’t involved in the learning tours in China and Norway. Depite being the Shadow Minister, they opted to relocate me from the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Minerals thinking that I won’t be able to know what was going on,” Mnyika said.

 

According to Mnyika the government was the succumbing to pressure from international organisations and the World Bank. 

 

 The bills that MPs do not want tabled in the House are the Petroleum Bill 2015, Oil and Gas Revenue Management Bill 2015 as well as the Tanzania Extractive Industry (Transparency and Accountability) Bill 2015.

 

Addressing journalists on Thursday, Energy and Minerals Minister, George Simbachawene noted that preparations for the three bills started in 2010 and that stakeholders were involved at several stages and their views considered.

 

He underscored the need to replace the Petroleum Act, 2008 and the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act, 1980 as they do not explain about the exportation of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as well as down, mid- and upper-stream activities.

 

He said passing of the bills, will enable exploration activities to begin by 2018/19 noting that suspending them would push the exercise to 2023/2024.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN