Parliament rejects National Security Council Bill 2009
The National Assembly has just rejected the National Security Council Bill, 2009.
Member of the parliament said that the bill is flawed and it may dilute powers of the president as the Commander-In-Chief.
"President has the powers of the executive as the Commander-In-Chief, and those powers cannot be delegated. You cannot give powers to the people to vote on the issue that the Commander-In-Chief is supposed to order them," contributed Mr Slaa.
The bill which attracted contributions by veteran MPs, like Mr John Malecela, and those from MPs who rarely make contributions, like Rtd Brg. Gen. Hassan Ngwilizi, saw both the opposition and ruling sides of the house taking one side.
"On this issue I concur with Slaa, there are presidential powers which cannot be delegated," said former Prime Minister Malecela. Dr Willbroad Slaa (Karatu-Chadema) had earlier contributed the same.
The heated debate on the bill, begun to look bad to the Minister of State (Good Governance), Ms Sophia Simba, when MP begun contributing to the bill, after she tabled it.
"I am not convinced with this bill because it defies all the logic of having a defence and security council," the first MP contributing to bill, Rtd Brg. Gen. Ngwilizi.
The veteran politician opened up a door to a heated debate, whereby five MP contributed on the bill, all not supporting it, with exception of one MP.
Mr Slaa almost put the last nail on the coffin, when he moved a motion before the parliament, using article 69 of the parliament regulations, asking the national Assembly to postpone the bill.
"The bill is not ready as it implies violation of the constitution of the united republic on a very sensitive issue of security," said Dr Slaa.
However, the Deputy Speaker, Ms Anna Makinda, did not react on the motion, allowing the next contributor, Mr Malecela to continue with his contribution.
Mr Malecela is the one who finally put the last nail, leading to the Deputy Speaker calling upon the Minister to respond on the contributions.
"May I return the bill to the committee, I am asking to be given other time for this bill to be tabled in this parliamentary season. Honorable Deputy Speaker may I make a motion," said Ms Simba.
The Deputy Speaker asked the National Assembly whether they support the motion, to which the parliament unanimously voted in support of it.
However, the MP who supported the bill, Ponsoani Nyami (Nkasi-CCM), had already left the building before the house rejected the bill.
After postponement of the session, other cabinet members gathered around consoling Ms Simba, while some hugged her. It is rare for a bill to be rejected in the Tanzanian parliament.
Source:
http://www.dailynews.co.tz/home/?n=7091&cat=home