Gay link remark disrupts Bunge

Dodoma. Remarks by Mr Ezekiah Wenje (Nyamagana - Chadema) – linking the Civic United Front (CUF) to Western liberal parties that support homosexuality – created drama in Parliament yesterday, forcing the Deputy Speaker to twice postpone the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s  2013/14 budget debate.

The Deputy Speaker, Mr Job Ndugai, felt obliged to adjourn the morning session one hour to time after misunderstandings arose in the debating chamber following homosexuality remarks in Mr Wenje’s 21-page speech.

Generally, peace had prevailed in the National Assembly yesterday from 9am to around noon.

It was still calm between 10:30 and 11:30am when Foreign Affairs minister Bernard Membe presented his estimates.

His speech was followed by another 30 minutes of harmony when Mr Juma Nkamia (Kondoa South - CCM) took to the podium to present the views of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs on behalf of committee chair Edward Lowassa.

Abruptly, a sour atmosphere swept through the House during the first three minutes as the Foreign Affairs shadow minister Wenje read the opposition’s views on Mr Membe’s Sh138.36 billion 2013/14 budget.

He was on page 2 of his 21-page document but some CUF MP had already spotted something offensive on page 8 and moved to block him. 

Mr Masoud Abdallah Salum (Mtambile-CUF) stood up and sought the Deputy Speaker’s guidance, arguing that the words on page 8 were abusive, inciting and bent towards damaging the reputation of the party.

“Mr Deputy Speaker, 8th page of this speech is abusive …it implies CUF is a party that supports same-sex marriage, lesbianism and homosexuality. This is a fallacy, brainless, idiotic ...and we want him to apologise and withdraw those words,” Mr Salum told a half-empty House.

In line with Parliamentary Standing Orders 68 (1) and 64 (1) A, F and J, Mr Salum urged Mr Ndugai to demand that Mr Wenje withdraws the offending words.

“…After he withdraws, the Parliamentary Committee on Ethics should also deal with him or else we will take legal action against both Chadema and the Parliament,” the visibly agitated Salum said.

At that juncture, Mr Ndugai asked Mr Wenje if he had credible explanation for his statement.

The MP responded: “Basically, we are speaking about relationships that political parties in Tanzania have with counterparts in developed countries.”

Requesting the House to try to understand the concept, the Nyamagana MP said: “In short, these relationships are based on ideologies….We regard CCM as a leftist party….As for Chadema, we have same ideologies with centrism parties and as for CUF, it purely follows liberal ideologies….the world over, liberal parties support homosexuality and same sex marriages.”

His explanation however fell in deaf ears of CUF legislators and the whole House turned chaotic. Furious CUF lawmakers stood up and started throwing papers at Wenje, coupled with nasty words, with a few threatening to beat him up.

Other MPs also switched on their mikes and urged CUF MPs to box Mr Wenje. There was no order in the House anymore, forcing Mr Ndugai to adjourn the session and called a meeting for a Ethics Committee.

The drama persisted even as MPs marched out of the debating chamber but Mr Wenje escaped unhurt and made his way to the opposition wing offices at the Administration Block.

Outside the House, MPs gathered in small groups and it was clear that CUF lawmakers were eager to teach Mr Wenje a lesson.

“We will surely fight and we know how to fight….we are not like CCM that you are used to insulting freely,” said Mr Suleiman Bungara (Kilwa South-CUF) as he pointed a finger at Mr Vicent Nyerere (Musoma Urban-Chadema).

Speaking to journalists, Mr Khatibu Said Haji (Konde - CUF), said all he wanted was to hit Mr Wenje so that it serves as a lesson to the Nyamagana MP and his entire party.

“My intension was to thump him …I’m certain that would have sent a good message to his party,” he said. 

Mr Ibrahim Mohammed Sanya (Mji Mkongwe-CUF) said CUF would pursue the case saying it was high time Chadema learned to “use civilised  language.”