EALA suspended indefinitely following row over speaker impeachment

Speaker Margaret Zziwa flanked by EALA members addresses a past press conference. Photo/File 

In Summary

• A heated debate preceded the suspension of the plenary session as members debated the legality of the move.

By Peter Saramba The Citizen Reporters

Arusha

The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) adjourned indefinitely on Tuesday after a Motion to remove its Speaker Ms Margaret Nnatongo Zziwa backfired.

A heated debate preceded the suspension of the plenary session as members debated the legality of the move.

The EALA session that usually start at 2pm was delayed till 3.44pm after some of the members boycotted on learning that the order paper did not contain the controversial motion.

But when it was finally tabled, sitting resumed amid tension that continued into the short but heated session before the speaker announced the assembly would remain suspended until further notice.

The motion that has been on the card for some time was finally moved by an outspoken Kenyan member Mr Peter Mathuki who was one of the early signatories to have Ms Margaret Nnatongo Zziwa removed as a speaker.

It was seconded by Ms Shy-Rose Bhanji of Tanzania, Nyiranilimo Odette of Rwanda and Hafsa Mossi of Burundi.

Ms Zziwa, a Ugandan national who took over the position in June 2012 as the first woman speaker, has been at loggerheads with a number of EALA members who accuse her of incompetence, poor leadership, dictatorship and favouritism.

She allowed the tabling of the motion after lengthy consultations with the EAC lawyer Mr Wilbert Kaahwa and the clerk to the assembly Mr Kenneth Madete.

A minute into Mr Mathuki’s tabling of the motion, another member Mr Fred Mukassa Mbidde stood up and sought guidance from the speaker over the legality of continuing with the motion.

He said there was a pending case in the High Court relating to the office of the Speaker.

The intervention forced a Kenyan member, Mr Joseph Ombasa to interject, claiming article 38 (3) of the EALA regulations allowed the House to proceed with matters that are of dire importance to the EAC.

However, Mr Kaahwa clarified that the case in court did not bar the members from their debate on the impeachment of the speaker, saying a ruling on the matter had stated as much.

Mr Mbidde accused the EAC lawyer of seeking to mislead the house and taking sides in the debate.

Ms Zziwa joined Mr Mbidde in questioning the law interpretation by the EAC counsel.

“I think the Lawyer in his clarification has shown that he is siding with the side that brought this motion to remove me,” she said, an accusation that Mr Kaahwa denied.

The Speaker directed that the order be removed from the day’s business pending a proper legal interpretation, a move attracted loud opposition from members.

She later suspended the day’s business and announced that the EALA sittings will remain suspended indefinitely.

The Minister for EAC Affairs from Uganda Mr Shem Bagaine, who was present, told reporters that his government did not to interfere with the operations of the House and would wait for the dispute to be resolved conclusively.