Rwanda, DR Congo leave EA legislative body in limbo

Arusha. Uncertainty looms large over the inauguration of the fifth East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) this month as two partner states are yet to submit their respective nominations.

The trend has prompted the East African Community (EAC) technocrats to seek legal opinions on whether oath-taking for the nominees from other states should proceed without representatives from the two countries.

Rwanda, along with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), had not yet sent the names of their MPs-elect to the Eala clerk by yesterday.

Although they have until December 19th, the day the new MPs will be sworn in, to submit the names, there is already rising concern.

Legal experts at the EAC seat are burning their heads over what would happen should the two partner states fail to beat the deadline for the constitution of the 5th Assembly.

“Is it in order to omit them in the first sitting if they do not complete the election of their representatives by December 19?” asked one of them.

The first sitting of the 5th Assembly that would succeed the 4th Assembly is scheduled for December 17–21 in Arusha.

The administration of the oath to the new MPs is planned for December 19, while the election of the new Speaker is scheduled for December 20.

However, to date, the Clerk of Eala has received the list of elected representatives from only five countries: Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, and South Sudan.

Those elected from Tanzania are Angela Kizigha, Madra Juma Mohamed, Dr. Shogo Richard Mlozi, Dr. Abdullah Hasnuu Makame, and Machano Ali Machano.

Others are Ansar Abubakar Kachwamba, James Kinyasi Millya, Dr. Ngwaru Maghembe, and Mashaka Khalfan Ngole.

The names of those nominated from Rwanda and the DR Congo had not reached the office of the clerk, who is mandated to administer the oath.

Reasons as to why the two countries have not sent the names of their representatives for the 5th Eala are not clear.

Rwandan media reported on Thursday that the issue was being sorted through the country’s National Electoral Commission (NEC).

The electoral body said it had submitted 24 names of candidates who are vying to represent the country in the regional assembly for further scrutiny.

Members of Rwanda’s Eala are picked from political organizations represented in the Parliament’s Chamber of Deputies and the youth, women, and persons living with disabilities councils.

Political organizations account for six of those to be nominated for the regional assembly, while the three national councils get one, each.

However, the NEC official could not give the exact date when the Rwandan members of Eala will be elected but hinted that it could be well before December 17.

The situation is not clear for the DR Congo, a new entrant to the bloc that only recently completed legal procedures to become a bona fide member.

According to reports, names of people to represent the vast country at Eala that had been sent to Arusha were returned to Kinshasa.

The reason was that procedures were not followed, as they were reportedly sent to the EAC secretary general instead of the Eala clerk.

“The procedure is that the names of new MPs should originate from the Clerk of the National Assembly of the partner state to Eala Clerk,” affirmed one official.

However, members of the Eala Commission, a body that manages the day-to-day affairs of the Assembly, are not taking chances over the stalemate.

“Should the House proceed with the administration of the oath to those already elected?” asked one member seeking legal advice on the matter.

If this occurs, the Speaker will be elected without the participation of any of the two partner states that have not sent the names of their MPs.

Alternatively, the process of swearing in the new Eala MPs and inauguration has to be delayed “until all partner state representatives have taken oath.”

An Eala official who spoke on condition of anonymity said he was optimistic Rwanda would beat the deadline by submitting the names of its MPs-elect.

He added that names from the DR Congo would also be accepted “as long as they originated from the Clerk of the National Assembly and not the Office of the President.”

The fourth Eala, whose life and tenure end on December 17, has been holding its sitting in Arusha since last Monday.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Martin Ngoga, shall preside over the sitting, during which various bills will be tabled and debated. The fourth Eala came into office on December 17, 2017.

Members of Eala, the legislative arm of the community, are elected for a five-year term, renewable once. Each partner state has nine members in the House.

Arusha. Uncertainty looms large over the inauguration of the fifth East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) this month as two partner states are yet to submit their respective nomination.

The trend has prompted the East African Community (EAC) technocrats to seek legal opinions on whether Oath taking for the nominees from other states should proceed without representativess from the two countries.

Rwanda, alongside the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) had not yet sent the names of their MPs-elect to the Eala clerk by yesterday.

Although they have until December 19th, the day the new MPs will be sworn in, to submit the names, there is already a rising concern.

Legal experts at the EAC seat are burning heads over what would happen should the two partner states fail to beat the deadline for constitution of the 5th Assembly.

“Is it in order to omit them in the first sitting if they do not complete the election of their representatives by December 19th,”, asked one of them.

The first sitting of the 5th Assembly that would succeed the 4th Assembly is scheduled for December 17th to 21st in Arusha.

Administration of the Oath to the new MPs is planned for December 19th while the election of the new Speaker is scheduled for December 20th.

However, todate Clerk of Eala has received the list of elected representatives from only five countries; Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan.

Those elected from Tanzania are Angela Kizigha, Madra Juma Mohamed, Dr Shogo Richard Mlozi, Dr Abdullah Hasnuu Makame and Machano Ali Machano.

Others are Ansar Abubakar Kachwamba, James Kinyasi Millya, Dr Ngwaru Maghembe and Mashaka Khalfan Ngole.

The names of those nominated from Rwanda and DR Congo had not reached the office of the Clerk who is mandated to administer the Oath.

Reasons as to why the two countries have not sent the names of their representatives for the 5th Eala are not clear.

Rwanda media reported on Thursday that the issue was being sorted through the country’s National Electoral Commission (NEC).

The electoral body said it had submitted 24 names of candidates who are vying to represent the country in the regional Assembly for further scrutiny.

Rwanda members to Eala are picked from political organisations represented in the Parliament’s Chamber of Deputies and the youth, women and persons living with disabilities councils.

Political organiszations account for six of those to be nominated for the regional Assembly while the three national councils get one, each.

However, the NEC official could not tell the exact date when the Rwandan members of Eala will be elected but hinted it could be well before December 17.

The situation is not clear for DR Congo, a new entrant to the bloc which only recently completed legal procedures to become a bonafide member.

Reports have it that names of people to represent the vast country at Eala which had been sent to Arusha were sent back to Kinshasa.

The reason was that procedures were not followed as they were reportedly sent to the EAC secretary general instead of the Eala Clerk.

“The procedure is that the names of new MPs should originate from the Clerk of the National Assembly of the partner state to Eala Clerk,” affirmed one official.

However, members of the Eala Commission, a body which manages the day to day affairs of the Assembly, are not taking chances over the stalemate.

“Should the House proceed with the administration of the Oath to those already elected,” “, asked one member seeking legal advice on the matter.

Should that happen, the election of the Speaker shall be undertaken minus any of the two partner states which have not sent names of their MPs.

Alternatively, the process of swearing in the new Eala MPs and inauguration has to be delayed “until all partner states representatives have taken Oath”.

An Eala official who spoke on condition of anonymity said he was optimistic Rwanda would beat the deadline by submitting names of its MPs-elect.

He added that names from DR Congo would also be received “as long as they originated from the Clerk of the National Assembly and not the Office of the President”.

The fourth Eala, whose life and tenure ends on December 17th, has been holding its sitting in Arusha since last Monday.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Martin Ngoga, shall preside over the sitting during which various Bills will be tabled and debated. The fourth Eala came into office on December 17th, 2017.

Members of Eala, a legislative arm of the community, are elected for a five-year term; renewable once. Each partner state has nine members to the House.