Two more opposition MPs suspended by Deputy Speaker
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Tulia Ackson reading decisions to suspend two Chadema Special Seats MPs in Dodoma yesterday, Photo by Edwin Mjwahuzi.
What you need to know:
The decision also fell upon Ms Anatropia Theonest (Chadema – Special Seats) who was handed a three-day suspension for violating Standing orders during the February 2016 sitting.
Dodoma. The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Tulia Ackson, yesterday handed Ms Susan Lyimo (Chadema – Special Seats) a five-session suspension for violating Standing Orders during earlier meetings of the ongoing budget sitting.
The decision also fell upon Ms Anatropia Theonest (Chadema – Special Seats) who was handed a three-day suspension for violating Standing orders during the February 2016 sitting.
In line with Standing Order 75, the two will not be allowed within the Parliamentary grounds during the days of the suspension. They will also be receiving half of their salaries and half of their allowances that are associated with their monthly payments.
Working on the advice from the Parliamentary Rights Ethics and Privileges Committee, Dr Ackson said she and the respective Committee were convinced that the two uttered false information during their respective contributions to debates in the House in the past.
The two are, however, already boycotting all sessions chaired by Dr Ackson in line with the decision by the opposition to do so claiming that the Deputy Speaker harbours ill intentions against House back benchers.
Reading a statement in Parliament yesterday, the deputy chairman for the Parliamentary Privileges, Ethics and Powers Committee, Mr Almas Maige, said during its investigations, the team was convinced that Ms Lyimo failed to prove allegations she had aired in the House against the ministry of Home Affairs, contrary to Standing orders 63 (1) and 64 (1) (a).
According to Mr Maige, on May 17, 2016, Ms Lyimo alleged that the government had purchased 777 water canons ahead of the October 2015 General Election, arguing that doing so was unfair in a country that does not have enough ambulances.
