The Constituent Assembly was yesterday called off abruptly following chaotic scenes with numerous delegates to the CA preventing Judge Jose...
The Constituent Assembly was yesterday called off abruptly following chaotic scenes with numerous delegates to the CA preventing Judge Joseph Warioba from tabling the Second Draft Constitution.
In an apparent ambush of CA chairman Samuel Sitta, a section of the 629 delegates disrupted the session by shouting at the top of their voices, making it impossible for Judge Warioba to give a presentation.
In yet another day of shame from the seat of Parliament in Dodoma, the ugly scenes from the assembly were beamed live on national television before a shocked Mr Sitta called off the session indefinitely.
A perplexed Judge Warioba stood transfixed at the lectern for a moment as the Mr Sitta unsuccessfully beseeched the Members of the Constituent Assembly (MCAs) to cool down and listen to what the chairman of the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) had to say.
Trouble started immediately the chair asked the CRC chief to move his speech. Some MCAs sprung up and shouted in all manner of ways to protest the move to go on with the session.
When Mr Sitta failed to win them over, he curtly announced that the assembly had been called off, to be reconvened later.
The protest was apparently owing to a decision by Mr Sitta to revoke Standing Orders to allow Judge Warioba to table the Draft Constitution ahead of the opening of the assembly on Friday by President Jakaya Kikwete.
The revoked Article 7 (1) (g) and (h) – hardly a week after the regulations were approved – was to change who, between the President and the Constitution Review (CRC) chairman, should be the first to address the August Assembly.
With the move, Judge Warioba was thus expected to present the Draft Katiba yesterday to pave the way for President Jakaya Kikwete to address the House on Friday. But that did not go down well with MCAs who have branded themselves as defenders of the ‘Union of Public Constitution’ – better known in Kiswahili as Umoja wa Katiba ya Wananchi (UKAWA).
The group said amending the Orders was a deliberate and unacceptable violation of procedure by Mr Sitta. They vowed to stand their ground in the pursuit to support the Draft Constitution.
As soon as Mr Sitta stepped into the debating chamber and welcomed Judge Warioba to present the Second Draft, almost all Ukawa members stood up, demanding that the chairman grant them chances to speak.
However, Mr. Sitta stood his ground, insisting that he would not grant anyone such chance and instead welcomed Judge Warioba to the podium.
It was all chaos in the House as all Ukawa members started shouting at Mr. Sitta, demanding him to follow the Standing Orders.
“Follow the Standing Orders!” Mr Tundu Lissu was heard shouting. Among the notable political figures that stood up in protest was Prof. Ibrahim Lipumba, Mr. Christopher Mtikila and Mr. James Mbatia.
Mr Warioba stood at the podium helplessly. He could not speak as nobody was listening. At that juncture, Mr. Sitta decided to adjourn the session.
“Honourable members; there is no way we can continue with this session under the existing situation…I now adjourn the proceedings until further notice,” he said.
Credit: The citizen
In an apparent ambush of CA chairman Samuel Sitta, a section of the 629 delegates disrupted the session by shouting at the top of their voices, making it impossible for Judge Warioba to give a presentation.
In yet another day of shame from the seat of Parliament in Dodoma, the ugly scenes from the assembly were beamed live on national television before a shocked Mr Sitta called off the session indefinitely.
A perplexed Judge Warioba stood transfixed at the lectern for a moment as the Mr Sitta unsuccessfully beseeched the Members of the Constituent Assembly (MCAs) to cool down and listen to what the chairman of the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) had to say.
Trouble started immediately the chair asked the CRC chief to move his speech. Some MCAs sprung up and shouted in all manner of ways to protest the move to go on with the session.
When Mr Sitta failed to win them over, he curtly announced that the assembly had been called off, to be reconvened later.
The protest was apparently owing to a decision by Mr Sitta to revoke Standing Orders to allow Judge Warioba to table the Draft Constitution ahead of the opening of the assembly on Friday by President Jakaya Kikwete.
The revoked Article 7 (1) (g) and (h) – hardly a week after the regulations were approved – was to change who, between the President and the Constitution Review (CRC) chairman, should be the first to address the August Assembly.
With the move, Judge Warioba was thus expected to present the Draft Katiba yesterday to pave the way for President Jakaya Kikwete to address the House on Friday. But that did not go down well with MCAs who have branded themselves as defenders of the ‘Union of Public Constitution’ – better known in Kiswahili as Umoja wa Katiba ya Wananchi (UKAWA).
The group said amending the Orders was a deliberate and unacceptable violation of procedure by Mr Sitta. They vowed to stand their ground in the pursuit to support the Draft Constitution.
As soon as Mr Sitta stepped into the debating chamber and welcomed Judge Warioba to present the Second Draft, almost all Ukawa members stood up, demanding that the chairman grant them chances to speak.
However, Mr. Sitta stood his ground, insisting that he would not grant anyone such chance and instead welcomed Judge Warioba to the podium.
It was all chaos in the House as all Ukawa members started shouting at Mr. Sitta, demanding him to follow the Standing Orders.
“Follow the Standing Orders!” Mr Tundu Lissu was heard shouting. Among the notable political figures that stood up in protest was Prof. Ibrahim Lipumba, Mr. Christopher Mtikila and Mr. James Mbatia.
Mr Warioba stood at the podium helplessly. He could not speak as nobody was listening. At that juncture, Mr. Sitta decided to adjourn the session.
“Honourable members; there is no way we can continue with this session under the existing situation…I now adjourn the proceedings until further notice,” he said.
Credit: The citizen
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