Tanzania Speaker swears-in 19 controversial opposition members of parliament

By Our Correspondent, DODOMA Tanzania

The puzzle surrounding the appointment of Special Seats Members of Tanzania Parliament from main opposition party (Chadema) was finally solved on Tuesday, November 24, when the Speaker of the parliament swore in 19 legislators from the party.

The Speaker, Job Ndugai, swore in controversial member from the opposition during a brief ceremony that was held at Parliament grounds in Dodoma city.

Following the outcome of the October 2020 general election, Chadema is entitled to 19 Special Seats MPs who are picked basing on the total number of votes garnered by the party's Presidential candidate.

According to the National Electoral Commission (NEC) results, the Chadema presidential candidate, Tundu Lissu, gunned 1.9 million votes, representing 13% of the total number of votes polled.

However, Chadema and another opposition party, ACT-Wazalendo, protested the results and called for new elections under independent commission and called for peaceful mass protests.

Chadema termed the election results announced by NEC a 'travesty’ and said it would not recognise its outcome, alleging massive irregularities including ballot stuffing. 

The party declared it would boycott parliament and not accept the special seats.

The Secretary General of Chadema, John Mnyika tweeted on November 8 2020 that the party’s Central Committee has not selected Special seats Members of Parliament and would not present the names required by law on the ground that the elections were rigged.

“We have been informed that the Electoral Commission is in a process of forging fake names of members and present to the Speaker for blessings; we are not part of this forgery.” He insisted.

Amidst controversy, news started blowing across social media platforms that the 19 would finally be sworn in today and finally, they stepped into Parliament grounds at around 3:00pm where they were sworn in as legal members without knowing which party authority presented the names.

Mnyika promised to convene a press conference to clear the air and tell the truth.

The 19 members sworn in are former Kawe MP and chairperson for the opposition party’s women wing, Halima Mdee, former Same East MP, Naghenjwa Kaboyoka, former Tarime Urban MP Esther Matiko and former Bunda legislator Esther Bulaya.

Others are Stella Fiayo, Grace Tendega, Cecilia Pareso, Nustrat Hanje, Felister Njau, Kishoa David and Tunza Malapo.

The list includes also Anatropia Theonest, Salome Makamba, Conchesta Rwamlaza, Hawa Mwaifunga, Agnes Kaiza and Asia Mohamed that brings the total number of Chadema MPs in the house to 20 including lone elected constituency member, Aida Khenan who was sworn in during parliamentary proceedings two weeks ago.

Speaking shortly after being sworn in, Esther Matiko thanked her party for presenting her name to the Electoral Commission confirming that she doesn’t know which party authority presented the names.

“I don’t know who presented my name to the NEC then to the parliament, what I know is that I was invited for swearing-in and that I shall present my party interest and that of Tanzanians.” She said. - Africa