Job Ndugai arrives in Dodoma with wise words

Speaking after his arrival in Dodoma yesterday since his return from India where he went for treatment, Mr Ndugai said he would prefer to see unity, harmony and peace prevailing among the MPs. “As we would soon meet for the September session, I want all legislators to speak with one language.

I have taken note that during the previous Bunge sessions, the relationship between the opposition camp and senior National Assembly officials were not good and had reached a stage where some MPs refused to attend an iftar hosted by the Deputy Speaker,” he said. Mr Ndugai further noted that some MPs were not even talking to each other.

‘’Such hostility has even spread to those who attend the same church or mosque. Still this has not been a reconciliation factor. This must stop at once. All MPs should work together to achieve common goals for the benefit of all Tanzanians,’’ he appealed.

He advised the lawmakers to present their grievances to the parliamentary committees that oversee operations of the House rather than opting to walk out of the debating chamber.

On the suggestion of involving the former Speaker, Mama Anne Makinda, in the arbitration efforts between the opposition camp and the Deputy Speaker, Mr Ndugai said as the MPs would soon arrive in Dodoma, better ways to solve the differences would be sought.

“My concern is not on opposition MPs stepping out of the debating chamber as it is not uncommon, for any member can do that as there is no regulation that prohibits them from doing that.

We do not count that as an offence … my biggest concern was seeing MPs lacking good relations,” he pointed out. On the government’s move to Dodoma, he said operations of the Parliament will also change in the near future. He said the issue will be discussed by the MPs in the quest for additional regulations that would oversee that both committees’ sessions and parliamentary on