Chadema responds to Speaker’s intention to suspend Lissu’s salary payment
What you need to know:
- Chadema has urged National Assembly Speaker Job Ndugai to abide by laws and regulations in executing his duties and remember that rights of MPs are provided for by laws and not rewards.
- The main Opposition party said Parliament has a long history of MPs receiving treatment for a long time, wondering why hate statements were directed at Mr Lissu who doubles as the opposition whip in Parliament.
Dar es Salaam. Chadema has urged National Assembly Speaker Job Ndugai to abide by laws and regulations when executing his duties and remember that the rights of parliamentarians are guided by laws as opposed to being given as a reward.
The statement by the main opposition party comes a few hours after Mr Ndugai was quoted in Parliament as saying he was considering suspension of salary payment to Singida East MP Tundu Lissu (Chadema).
Mr Ndugai made the statement when reacting to proposals by Geita MP Joseph Kasheku Musukuma who suggested that Parliament should suspend Mr Lissu’s salary.
Mr Lissu has been receiving treatment in Kenya and Belgium after surviving an assassination attempt by unknown assailants on September 7, 2017 outside his home in Dodoma.
But, a statement signed by Chadema director of Protocol, Communications and Foreign Affairs John Mrema says the rights of MPs were provided for by laws governing the Parliament.
“We would like to remind the Speaker that many parliamentarians have received long term treatment in history. But we have never witnessed statements of hate against them as it is happening to Mr Lissu,” reads part of the statement.
“The Speaker should be aware that former legislator, Prof Mwandosya (Mark), current MPs Dr Mwakyembe (Harrison), Job Ndugai (Speaker himself) and Nimrod Mkono are among lawmakers who have spent many days in hospitals without statements of hate being directed at them as we are witnessing currently,” it added.
He said Chadema was disappointed by recent statements, noting that it was a testimony that Parliament had bad intentions when it refused to pay for treatment of the MP, saying that it was uncomfortable to see Tanzanians contributing towards his treatment.
Mr Mrema said Chadema would like to remind Mr Ndugai that institutions that do not follow their own laws and regulations but rather follow statements and decrees of an individual are considered weak.
