Kabwe`s suspension still stands, says Speaker Sitta

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Samwel Sitta, has said that his office would not write to Kigoma North MP Zitto Kabwe to give details of his suspension adding that the provisions of the National Assembly Standing Orders, which empowered the House to suspend him, were very clear on the penalty imposed.

Kabwe was suspended last August from attending the current Bunge session after he alleged that the Minister for Energy and Minerals, Nazir Karamagi, lied in Parliament regarding a contract he signed with Buzwagi Gold Mine in London.

Ever since he was suspended, Kabwe and some leaders of the opposition have been going around the country to explain his case to the people.

He was recently quoted by the media as saying that he had never received any letter from the Speaker?s office explaining to him what, as a Member of Parliament was supposed to do or not to do, while serving the penalty.

Kabwe said parliamentary work did not only entail attending sessions in the debating chamber but also had to do with other representative work.

But yesterday Sitta told Parliament that there was no such procedure of writing letters to suspended MPs to explain what they were not supposed to do during suspension period as the provisions of the National Assembly Standing Orders were clear.

Kabwe was suspended under rule 59 (3) of the National Assembly Standing Orders for failure to substantiate the truth of his allegations against Karamagi to the satisfaction of the National Assembly.

Sitta said that every Member of Parliament was obliged to abide by the Standing Orders and that whoever contravened them would be punished.

He said: ?Rule (61) gives conditions for suspended Member of Parliament and that the provision in itself serves as a letter because it is self explanatory.?

The rule states in brief that a member suspended under rule 59 (3) shall forthwith withdraw from the Assembly and shall not re-enter in any part of the Assembly debating chamber, throughout the period of his suspension, and he will be paid half of the remuneration,? he said.

The Speaker said that the suspension would end on November 16, this year, and that from that date Kabwe would be free to participate in parliamentary business as stipulated in the Standing Orders.

Earlier it was reported that Kabwe`s suspension would end in the January Bunge session.

But yesterday Sitta clarified that because the Kigoma North legislator was suspended for one session, then the punishment would end on November 16, when the current session ends.