Chairperson of CA, Samia Suluhu Hassan. Overwhelmingly approved amendments of its Standing Orders on Friday, among other things, extending the days for the CA committees to discuss the constitution draft.
After approving the standing orders early in the morning on Friday, the CA Vice-Chairperson Samia Suluhu Hassan ordered members to go back to their committees, reminding them to adhere to the regulations while debating the constitution draft. The CA will convene again next Thursday.
Moving the amendment proposal, the chairman of the standing orders and special privileges committee, Mr Pandu Ameir Kificho, said the amendments emanated from requests by various committees to have more time for debate as well as revising the regulations to create conducive system of discussions in the assembly.
In the amendments, the CA has changed Saturday from a full working day to half day, with members convening at 9am and dispersing at 1pm, to allegedly allow members more time to conduct research on contentious issues and interact among themselves.
The amendments have further empowered the committee chairpersons to take to task members breaking or trying to disrupt proceedings of the committees, without necessarily consulting the CA chairman.
Earlier, Ms Suluhu said the threeday experience in the committees has revealed a lot of regulatory and administrative challenges that need to be addressed immediately.
“The two days allocated for the two chapters, for instance, are insufficient.
Many committees had asked for additional time,” she said.
Debating the amendment proposal, majority of members supported the motion with a few opposing it on grounds that some of the amendments were geared towards bullying members.
Mr Moses Machali faulted added powers on the CA committee chairpersons, claiming that some could abuse that authority. Mr Machali claimed that some chairpersons were already tampering with the regulations and using abusive language against members.
“Madam Vice-Chairperson, the committee chairpersons have to adhere to these rules, there are some chairpersons already using foul language against members, this is not acceptable,” he said.
In response, Ms Suluhu reminded both members and chairpersons to observe the regulations for peaceful and productive deliberations.
Ms Anna Abdallah, the chairperson of committee number 10 to which Mr Machali belongs intervened, refuting claims that she was bullying members.
“You belong to my committee but I have never used foul language against any member, which committee are you referring to here,” demanded Ms Abdallah.
Members of the committee later attacked Mr Machali, accusing him of bowing and shouting while fellow members were debating. Ms Anne Makinda, warned the CA members against shaming themselves in Parliament, arguing that whatever transpired at the committees should remain there.
Mr Tundu Lissu and John Mnyika had demanded postponement of the session to give members more time to digest the proposed amendments, but others members opposed. Meanwhile, the CA Vice-Chairperson on Friday announced the five members to the assembly’s steering committee.
The new members who will join the 12 committee chairpersons and two chairpersons of standing orders and draft committees are Freeman Mbowe, Amon Mpanju, Fatuma Fereji, Abubakar Hamis Bakar and Nakazael Tenga.
The new list replaces the earlier appointment which was disputed as unrepresentative. The first phase appointtees were Fakharia Shomari, Mary Chatanda, Abuu Juma, Amon Mpanju the only one who has been retained and Professor Ibrahim Lipumba who turned down the offer.
