Although the ‘battle’ is expected to be between Mr Job Ndugai of CCM, who is the immediate former deputy speaker and the Coalition of Four Opposition Parties, UKAWA, former Deputy Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlement Development, Mr Goodluck Ole Medeye, the former is mostly likely to emerge the new Speaker due to the majority of the ruling party commands in the House.
The Clerk of the National Assembly, Dr Thomas Kashililah, told reporters here yesterday that his office has received eight names of aspirants for the position, in which the holder will preside over one of the three pillars of state governance – the Legislature.
Apart from Mr Ndugai and Mr Ole Medeye, other candidates are Mr Peter Leonard Sarungi from the Alliance for Tanzania Farmers Party (AFP), Mr Hassan Kisabya Almas of the National Reconstruction Alliance (NRA) and Dr Godfrey Raphael Malisa from Chama Cha Kijamii (CCK).
Others are Mr Richard Shedrack Lyimo from Tanzania Labour Party (TLP), Mr Robert Alexander Kasinini from Democratic Party (DP) and the defeated presidential candidate in the just-ended general election, Mr Hashim Rungwe Spunda of CHAUMMA. Dr Kashililah further told reporters that preparations for the first session of the 11th Parliament have been completed.
He said that immediately after announcing the presidential order to call the Parliament, MPs-Elect would start the election process of the Speaker. Thereafter, he said, the MPs, who have already been registered, would enter into the swearing process. Dr Kashililah disclosed that as of yesterday, a total of 348 MPs from both the ruling and opposition parties had been registered.
Earlier on Monday, CCM Members of Parliament (MPs) unanimously elected Mr Job Ndugai as the party’s candidate for the post of Speaker. The party’s Secretary for Ideology and Publicity, Mr Nape Nnauye, said here yesterday that the other two candidates who were picked by CCM Central Committee (CC) to vie for the post decided to withdraw their names.
They are Deputy Attorney General, Dr Tulia Ackson Mwansasu and a member of the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA), Mr Abdullah Ali Mwinyi. Dr Mwansasu later on collected form to vie for the Deputy Speaker’s post after being nominated by President John Magufuli as Member of Parliament (MP).
“The name of our candidate will be forwarded to the Clerk of the National Assembly for endorsement before the voting process to be exercised by all MPs,” Mr Nnauye told reporters.
He expressed his confidence that Mr Ndugai, the MP-Elect for Kongwa would emerge the winner in the elections to be held today, considering the fact that CCM MPs cover 74.8 per cent of all the lawmakers in the House.
“There will be no any other candidate from the opposition camp who will emerge victorious other than a candidate from CCM. We have no doubt that Mr Ndugai is going to be the Speaker of the 11th Parliament,” he observed.
According to him, Mr Ndugai, who had served as Deputy Speaker in the 10th Parliament, was a perfect choice as he possessed enough experience and was capable of handling all kinds of pressure and challenges.
Speaking shortly after his candidature confirmation, Mr Ndugai expressed his thanks both to his co-candidates for supporting him and showing solidarity and for CCM MPs for believing in him.
He pleaded to treat all MPs equally regardless of the political parties they would be coming from. “Let me assure them all that it will be the best Parliament ever this time around.
All members from all political parties represented will be treated fairly,” said Mr Ndugai. He pointed out he was prepared enough to absorb pressure and deal with challenges that would come out in due course considering the fact that the 11th Parliament was composed of more youth and educated persons.
Earlier, opening the Committee for all CCM MPs before conducting the elections, the party’s Secretary General, Mr Abdulrahman Kinana, told the delegates that CCM was having only one task ahead of serving all Tanzanians.
Culled From Daily News
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