Shock as ruling party MPs quit key Bunge committee

SpeakerJob Ndugai chairs a meeting of the National Assembly’s Steering Committee in his Dodoma office yesterday as preparations for the budget season begins.

PHOTO | BUNGE

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CCM lawmaker, Dr Dalaly Kafumu, who chaired the Industries and Trade committee, and his deputy, Ms Vicky Kamata, tendered resignations yesterday

Dodoma. Two senior members of the crucial parliamentary Industry, Trade and Environment committee have resigned. Addressing a press conference after tendering their resignation letters to the Speaker of the National Assembly yesterday, the committee’s chairman Dr Dalaly Kafumu (CCM - Igunga) cited undue interference and lack of cooperation from government and lawmakers as some of the reasons for quitting.

He quit together with his vice-chairperson, Ms Vicky Kamata (CCM- Special Seat), who said she wanted to concerntrate on other duties. The two CCM lawmakers made the surprise decision after serving the committee for one and a half years.

Mr Job Ndugai, the Speaker of the National Assembly, confirmed the resignations in a terse text response but declined to comment.

“Yes, I have received their letters, and I have nothing to comment,” his message read.

Dr Kafumu said he had been “arm-twisted” into quitting his position, and that he felt he could no longer professionally perform his duties.

He said: “I have always worked very hard since I started leading this committee with my prime focus being to ensure the government succeeds in its mission to transform the county’s economy through industrialisation by 2025. But there has always been a myriad hindrances that derailed me from leading the committee towards the right direction.”

Dr Kafumu criticised some lawmakers and senior public officials for their “poor understanding of the whole idea of the industrialisation drive”. “It was a litmus test for us. Besides, all we have been getting from some MPs is negative talk and no cooperation,” he said.

Dr Kafumu said he had assessed his performance and role in the committee and came to the conclusion that relinquishing his position was the best and patriotic decision.

In October last year, Dr Kafumu’s committee ordered Industry minister Charles Mwijage, the ministry’s permanent secretary and ministerial experts out of a meeting after they submitted a report the MPs described as “full of blah-blah” and not worth presenting. The report was on how the government implemented the industrial strategy in the first quarter of the 2016/17 Financial Year.

Yesterday, Dr Kafumu said the government needed a “fresh system” to improve conditions for investing in the country.