By Athuman Mtulya,The Citizen Reporter
In Summary
- The assembly’s integrity also took a hit with yesterday’s resignation of four members of the key business committee (Commission) following a nasty falling out.
Kigali. The reputation of the
East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) is at an all-time low after it
failed to accomplish even a single task on its timetable in the two
weeks members spent in Rwanda.
The assembly’s integrity also took a hit with
yesterday’s resignation of four members of the key business committee
(Commission) following a nasty falling out.
After two days of inactivity over a motion to kick
out Tanzania’s Shy-Rose Bhanji and the shock resignations from the
Commission by members from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, Speaker
Margaret Zziwa called off the meeting indefinitely. A statement
released last night from Kigali gave the reason for the suspension as
“quorum hitch”. The situation arose from confusion and confrontations
on the review of rules of procedure governing all the house business and
misconduct allegations levelled against Ms Bhanji.
The four commissioners resigned after a motion to
remove Ms Bhanji failed to garner the mandatory quorum of at least three
other members from Tanzania. All the other countries had the numbers.
Those who resigned are Mr Abubakar Ogle (Kenya), Mr Christophe Bazivamo
(Rwanda), Ms Hafsa Mossi (Burundi), Mr Jeremy Ngendakumana (Burundi).
The Eala Commission steers all administrative
affairs of the Assembly and has 12 members—two from each of the five
member states, a representative from the council of ministers and the
Speaker. Tanzania’s other representative is Mr Adam Kimbisa.
“The implication of it is that the House is not
able to transact any business,” said Mr Bobi Odiko, Eala’s senior public
relations officer. “For it to do so, it needs to be re-constituted
according to Article 3 of the Administration of the East African
Legislative Assembly Act.”
The chairperson of Committee on Legal, Rules and
Privileges, Ms Dora Byamukama, moved a motion on Wednesday to impeach Ms
Bhanji from the commission by way of secret ballot.
Ms Byamukama accused Ms Bhanji of making
derogatory remarks about some EAC partner states and some members of the
summit of EAC States and also verbally insulting members of the
delegation as well as misbehaving during a flight from Brussels,
Belgium. “This matter has negative impacts,” she said. “It has tainted
the integrity of the House. It is unfortunate that it happened in the
presence of the top leadership of this House and we can’t carry on as if
nothing happened.”
The motion was backed by the majority of those
present in the House. Ms Bhanji has denied all the allegations and said
the move against her was a witch-hunt. She added: “They are aiming at
blackmailing me, character assassination and tainting my image in the
eyes of the public. It has been three weeks since the trip but I’m yet
to receive the allegations officially and in writing so I can also
officially respond to them in writing.”
But just as members were readying themselves to
vote by way of secret ballot after a protracted debate lasting three
hours, Ugandan MP Susan Nakawuki brought it to the attention of the
Speaker that Tanzania did not have a quorum. Only two Members (out of
nine) of the Assembly from Tanzania, Mr Abdullah Mwinyi and Dr
Nderakindo Kessy, were present.
Kenya had eight members, Burundi eight, Uganda
seven and Rwanda nine during the roll call. The Speaker had to adjourn
the house until yesterday morning but the roll call remained the
same—leading to an indefinite adjournment.
During debate of the motion earlier, Mr Abubakar
Zein of Kenya said he had never witnessed what he saw on the working
tour of Belgium. He was referring to the case of Ms Bhanji. Mr Zein
added: “It was utterly shocking and embarrassing. I can’t condone that.
She can’t stay in the leadership of this honourable house.”
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