The Citizen Reporters
Dar es Salaam/Moshi. The State House insisted yesterday that the Office of the Speaker of the National Assembly has to answer why it started paying MPs the increased sitting allowances to without the approval of the President.

Press secretary to the President Premi Kibanga told The Citizen that the position of the State House was clear and that there was not confusion whatsoever as far as the issue of MPs sitting allowances was concerned.

“If they have decided to start paying the MPs let the public not blame the President, the Parliament is an independent unit...despite that the regulations are clear that the President has to approve the pay before the MPs get whatever increase,” Ms Kibanga said.

With the President’s Office and that of the Speaker issuing contradictory statements regarding the increase of MPs’ sitting allowances, a section of the public is of the opinion that some leaders should resign. They said yesterday that Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda should be the first to take responsibility for exposing the government in bad light while Speaker Anne Makinda has to also call it quits “for betraying the voters.”

Speaking separately to The Citizen, they said the two leaders were unpatriotic for endorsing better pay to a small group of people while the majority were suffering. People also questioned where did they get the authority to increase the MPs’ sitting allowances, as according to the law it is only the President who can endorse them.

The headmaster of Majengo Secondary School in Moshi, Mr Peter Lyimo, said the legislators were becoming an embarrassment to voters.

“The high cost of living does not affect the MPs only...the lawmakers have to lead by example by not letting the public suffer at their expense,” Mr Lyimo said.

The headmaster was also of the view that once the new Constitution is in place, the legislators won’t do the same.He proposed that the new law should include a provision that would establish a body, which can determine the payment benefits of public leaders. He also wishes the document to have a provision that allows voters to take action against their leaders when they go against their will.

The director of the Moshi-based Radio Station, Mr John Shule, said when it happens that the Premier is crashing with the President, the best thing the Head of State could do was to suspend the Cabinet so the government could start afresh.

Reported by Sylivester Ernest and Daniel Mjema
“The continuing disagreement is causing a panic and even the ongoing strike by doctors...it is a shame to the government,” he said.

A retired lecturer at the Moshi University College of Co-operative and Business Studies (MUCCoBS), Mr Akwiline Kinabo, asked the government and legislators to “read the paintings at the wall” since the situation was going out of hand and that the public was “furious”.

Calls for resignation come even as the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) insisted yesterday that MPs should listen to the public outcry.

The statement signed by CCM publicity and ideology secretary, Mr Nape Nnauye, said categorically that the party was against the hiked MPs sitting allowances.

“We have said that the public is against the increase of the allowances and we as CCM want to commend the President for refusing to bless the addition,” reads part of the statement.

“We repeat our call that the MPs and anyone concerned to be cautious with the increase and if possible leave it altogether,” the statement said adding: “MPs should open up their ears and listen to the public’s outcry...let them leave this issue for now.”

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites