Kificho has failed, argue CA members

Dodoma. Some Constituent Assembly yesterday accused interim chairman Pandu Ameir Kificho of favouritism when presiding over sessions.

They said after proceedings were adjourned that Mr Kificho had proved a failure in presiding over CA business.

Mr Yusuf Manyanga said the chairman was giving politicians more time instead of being fair to all groups.

He added that Mr Kificho had failed to guide members in debating pertinent issues and instead gave much time to politicians to push political agenda in the assembly.

“What I can say is that the chairman is failing us…we cannot move forward this way. He is allowing politicians who are on a mission to defend narrow political interests and push their parties’ agenda,” he said.

Mr Julius Mtatiro said the interim chairman had proved he was not strong enough to withstand CA challenges, adding that Mr Kificho was being unfair to some members.

He said some members had forwarded schedules of amendments to the secretariat, but they were not presented to the draft standing orders committee for discussion by the assembly.

“We have been moving schedules of amendments to the secretariat, but they are not coming out. Instead, we see the usual speakers such as Christopher ole Sendeka, Ummy Mwalimu and Peter Serukamba. Some of us are not given an opportunity to speak,” he said.

Mr Mansoor Hiran said the interim chairman was supposed to use temporary standing orders to preside over assembly business before the CA approves Standing Orders.

“The interim chairman overseeing proceedings without any rules or regulations. There are more than 600 people in this building, but only a people few have been speaking since these sessions started…we cannot go on like this,” he said.

He added that the assembly could spend a month discussing issues that were not related to the constitution.

Mr Yusuf Salim Hussein said the interim chairman had failed to realise that there were people who were out to cause chaos in assembly sessions.

“We are aware that there are people who are only interested in causing chaos because they have their eyes on the presidency in the forthcoming General Elections, but some of us are here to write the new constitution. We must be given opportunity to air our views,” he said.