Africa-Press – Tanzania. A DRAMA ensued on Monday as a ‘controversial’ Bishop Josephat 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.
The lawmaker for Kawe constituency 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.
The lawmaker, who is in his first term in the parliament, arrived at the Bunge parking lot at 12:36 noon in a black sport utility vehicle (SUV) with registration number T173 DHA different from a usual orange Hammer that he drives during Bunge meetings.
He was later received by two security officers, one in plain cloth and the other in uniform.
They escorted him to the entrance where security guards ordered him to put on a face mask but he could not heed the call on grounds that he had health problems.
When the security officers asked him to present a medical certificate to justify his case, he replied: “I do not have one with me here.”
From there he was then escorted to a waiting lounge, waiting for his turn to appear before the committee in response to the order by the National Assembly Speaker Job Ndugai.
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.
Bishop Gwajima then asked the committee to hold for a while before starting the hearing, claiming that he had sent a security officer to his car to collect medicines for him.
“I have not been notified before that you are on medication, anyway, we will wait for a while,” Mr Mwakasaka said.
The committee then grilled Mr Gwajima for about two hours after which the Chairperson of the Committee adjourned the hearing until tomorrow afternoon.
Briefing reporters after the session, Mr Mwakasaka said they were done with the session for the day but the hearing will continue tomorrow.
He said Bishop Gwajima accorded them with the maximum cooperation, saying it was too early to say they have established a clear picture of the matter.
He explained that the time for the committee to hear such cases depends on one’s submission of his or her defence and the specific issues on the table.
Bishop Gwajima was quoted recently making remarks aimed at discouraging his followers to take Covid-19 jabs as he has repeatedly been questioning their safety and efficacy.
However, the Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children Dr Dorothy Gwajima has on different occasions rubished off the claims, insisting the Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective.
She recently demanded the Kawe MP to substantiate his statements against Covid-19 vaccines and corruption allegations he levelled against government leaders.
Dr Gwajima further condemned the ongoing misinformation about Covid-19 vaccines through various social platforms, calling upon Tanzanians to seek correct information from authentic sources, so as to make informed decisions on the vaccination.
“Health has now been taken as a political agenda, some people use it to mislead the public … district and regional commissioners should not allow such people to mislead the public by talking about biological matters, while they are not professionals,” pointed out the minister.
Tanzania is currently rolling out Johnson Covid- 19 vaccines donated by the United States government through the COVAX arrangement, at the 550 designated health facilities.
All Tanzanians aged 18 and above are eligible for vaccination on a voluntary basis.
Meanwhile, Ukonga MP, Jerry Slaa is also lined up to appear before the committee for grilling today at the same building in Dodoma.
