EALA bickering: MPs threaten session boycott

A new twist is emerging as the face of the bickering that started as a move to impeach the Speaker of East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Margaret Nantongo Zziwa. Latest development indicates that the lawmakers who wanted Zziwa out are not done yet even though the censure bid earlier this year failed after three Tanzanian lawmakers withdrew their signatures. The regional legislators are now considering dragging Zziwa to the East African Court of Justice (EACJ). They accuse her of downplaying the Genocide, abuse of office, nepotism and favouritism, intimidation of members and staff, which they say has eroded their confidence and trust in her. The MPs also accuse the Speaker of having individualistic attitude to Assembly responsibility, which they say is causing delays and postponement of meetings, as well as attempting to allocate unjustified funds to herself. Speaking to The New Times, last week, MP Abdul Karim Harelimana, from Rwanda, said due to the rift between the Speaker and the majority of members, lawmakers are planning to boycott the upcoming plenary session scheduled for October 19, in Kigali. Internal rules of EALA partly stipulate that the motion for a resolution to remove the Speaker from office shall be signed by at least four elected members from each partner state and submitted to the Clerk. According to Harelimana, the motion against Zziwa had more than the required quota, which was 36 against eight. EALA has nine members from each partner state and seven ex-officio members making a total of 52. The ex-officio members are the ministers responsible for East African Community affairs in the partner states, the Secretary-General and the Counsel to the Community. “The motion was moved, received by the Clerk, and it was included on the Order Paper and she took an opportunity to overrule it,” said Harelimana. “This is was not possible since you can’t chair a session that is deliberating on an issue that concerns you, it’s like being a judge in a case where you are the accused. She told the media that the motion had died a natural death but as per the law and per the advice of the Counsel to the Community, the motion still stands.” Why the impeachment Zziwa has previously accused aggrieved members were against her because she is pushing for positive changes at the Assembly and she rejected to increase salaries of the EALA legislators. But Harelimana dismissed the claims as baseless. “She behaves in an authoritarian way with no respect for the EALA members. She takes decisions on major issues unilaterally,” said the legislator. When EALA members attempted to move a motion on a ‘Resolution of the Assembly urging partner states to study the security impact of genocide ideology and denial in the region,’ Harelimana added, the Speaker downplayed it and ignored all attempts to have the motion tabled. The motion was moved by MP Abubakar Abdi Ogle with the backing of Rwandan MPs. “This issue has been in her office for more than a year. People are trying to convince her to place it on the Order Paper but she has refused. At one point, I, MP Patricia Hajabakiga and MP Christophe Bazivamo talked to her on the importance of this resolution,” Harelimana said.“After a lot of pressure she put it on the Order Paper as a last item, which was wrong.” EALA internal rules of procedure indicate that a substantial motion cannot come after the ‘questions’ item but according to Harelimana, the Speaker decided to put resolution motion after the last item of the plenary, which resulted to leaving it hanging. Some legislators also accuse the Speaker of illegally hiring her relatives, including her sister and cousin, to work for EALA. Harelimana contends that Zziwa’s sister, a secretary at the Assembly, was illegally hired. Members also accuse the Speaker of overstaying in missions in Western countries on EALA finances as a way of visiting her children studying there. “She does everything possible to ensure that the mission is extended whenever she goes to a country where she could visit her children. Sometimes it’s not proper, especially when the Speaker attends all events that EALA is invited to even when it’s not the Speaker supposed to go,” said Harelimana. “If these issues continue, members have a right to take the matter to the EACJ to seek for interpretation, for instance, is it in order for the Speaker to chair sessions where she is being questioned and has to give answers? From there, we will see what to do next, but it will depend on the ruling of the court.” He said the EALA members will not relent until they have put the house in order, adding that majority of the MPs could walk out of the upcoming Kigali session in protest. Kenya’s EALA MP Peter Mathuki backed Harelimana’s arguments, saying the Speaker is building a bad legacy for the Assembly, which he didn’t want to be part of and will not rest until things are done in the right way. On threat to boycott the upcoming EALA session, Muthuki said walking out of the session should not be a surprise, but rather an exercise of MPs’ right. “Walking out is an alternative and it is done because you don’t want to be part of the decisions taken which may be unfitting, so it shouldn’t be a surprise if legislators decide to walk out,” he said. Efforts to reach Zziwa for a comment were futile as she could not pick up her phone. Threat to dissolve the House However, MP Fred Mukasa Mbidde (Uganda), said he was tired of the bickering and threatened to petition court to have the House dissolved if the bickering persists. “The Assembly cannot be a playground for aggrieved legislators, if they are unhappy they should take their concerns to the Council of Ministers, but if they walk out of the Kigali session, I will not take the matter lightly. I intend to go to court and seek a proclamation for the EAC Summit to dissolve the Assembly and people elect another one,” Mbidde said. “I had thought of resigning but again my resignation would not solve the problem, its better I stand firm and ensure that the house is put in order. Those with grievances tend to forget that the mandate of the Speaker is to put the House to order so she has the authority to make decisions in light of what is appropriate. She has delivered well on that.” editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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EALA bickering: MPs threaten session boycott