Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Parliamentary Privileges, Ethics and Powers Committee on Friday concluded the grilling of Ukonga MP Jerry Silaa, and his Kawe counterpart Josephat Gwajima whose fate awaits recommendations to be submitted to the Speaker’s office.
The two lawmakers on the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) ticket were summoned by the committee to respond to the charges they were facing, as ordered by the Speaker of the National Assembly Job Ndugai.
They were both required to respond to various allegations, including making false assertions and lowering reputation of Parliament.
While Gwajima appeared before the committee on Monday and Wednesday, Silaa’s hearing was on Tuesday and Thursday. However, the Ukonga MP didn’t make it for the second hearing.
Thus, the committee Chairman, Emmanuel Mwakasaka sought for the approval of Speaker of Parliament Job Ndugai so that Mr Silaa can be arrested after failing to attend a committee meeting.
However, in what could be translated as a move to avoid arrest, Mr Silaa yesterday appeased the committee where he was grilled for 17 minutes.
It was observed that the Ukonga MP arrived at the Bunge premises around 6.00am, the area that gave him an immunity not to be arrested by the security organs.
He was called to the questioning chamber around 11.27am where he spent 17 minutes before coming out.
Briefing journalists shortly after completing the questioning, the committee chairman Mr Mwakasaka said the committee has completed the task of questioning the two lawmakers as instructed by the Speaker.
For his part, Mr Silaa said he didn’t appear before the committee on Thursday since he wasn’t aware of the second sitting, that he only heard through social media that the committee had ordered his arrest.
On Tuesday Silaa appeared before the committee for interrogation wheeling a pile of books, ostensibly for reference(s) in defence of allegations levelled against him.
A drama had ensued on Monday as Bishop Gwajima turned up to face questioning by the Parliamentary Privileges, Ethics and Powers Committee for allegedly making false assertions and lowering the reputation of the House.
Gwajima made drama when entering the Parliamentary premises as well as while inside the grilling chamber in front of members of the committee.
At the entrance, security guards ordered him to put on a face mask but he refused, arguing that he did not have it and after all he has no health complications.
Upon entering the room prepared for his hearing, Bishop Gwajima refused to use a microphone and chair that were initially prepared for him-apparently suspecting a bad plot against him.
He demanded that the chair and microphone be changed, and the committee chairperson granted the bishop’s wish.
He entered the room at around 14.43pm and was asked to have a seat. He refused to sit on a chair that was reserved for him and picked a different chair, a request which was granted by the committee’s chairperson, Mr Emmanuel Mwakasaka.
And when he was asked to get close to the mic, he responded by demanding the change of the microphone that was prepared, a request which was also granted after the committee chairperson ordered House officials to bring another microphone.
