"Bunge" Suspends the Opposition legislator

Following a decision to turn down Hon. Zitto Kabwe’ private motion to form a select committee to probe among other things Hon. Nazir Karamagi’s (Minister for Energy & Mineral) decision to sign a mining development agreement (MDA) with the Barrick Gold in London, England this past February, the parliament (through the speaker) suspended Hon. Kabwe from attending two consecutive sessions as of this past Tuesday. In effect this will mean the Kigoma North people (Hon. Kabwe’s constituency) will be without parliament representation in both the on-going session (which is expected to end next Friday) and the November session.
While to some Hon. Kabwe seem to fit the profile of being “mkorofi”, honorable legislators should have known the fact that Hon. Kabwe was not acting on his own behalf. Hon. Kabwe simply presented to the front questions that some of us –still do not have the answers (despite Hon. Karamagi’s “good ” responses).
While most people would agree to the fact that Hon. Kabwe had all the right to question Hon. Karamagi’s action as a minister; Legislators (from the ruling party) thought, by suggesting the possibility of “corrupt practices” (the motion which went in flame - along partisan line) Hon. Kabwe had in effect defamed Hon. Karamagi’s reputation.
While, we the validity of Hon Kabwe’s motion is a topic by itself, I think of more concern is the precedence that the decision to suspend Hon Kabwe seem to make.
It is my opinion that...despite the desire of the "ruling party" legislators to make us believe that Hon. Karamagi's’ “good” reputation has been shred to pieces - simply because a rookie legislator dared to question his actions in the "ru-public", I believe it IS the job of active legislators (Hon. Kabwe - included) to question the actions of government official… especially when things seem a little “weird”. Being a minister (political, religious or otherwise) does not prevent people from questioning your action! As a matter of fact... simply by being a public official... ALL of your actions, words, gestures (provided they are made in public) - ARE for public consumption - and anybody in the public CAN question the validity, reliability or even the essence of those actions! and so it is my humble opinion that Hon. Kabwe did nothing wrong to table his private motion - Even if he failed to justify his allegations. Now, one may argue to the fact that... if left unchecked people can abuse "the floor" by bringing up ridiculous allegations. I do not see that happening... and by the way - I thought that is why a legislator has to show his intention to table a motion by writing a speaker (with justification) before it is allowed in. BY the speaker allowing the motion - he saw some validity to the allegations. Failure to be proven guilty - is not synonymous to being exonerated. Simply because Hon. Kabwe failed to justify his motion, it does not necessarily mean the Hon. Minister was right (and thus Hon. Kabwe wrong) – that would have been a wrong assessment of the whole thing. I find it very unfair (and very much borders being unpatriotic) to punish a legislator simply because he failed to win the other side of the aisle.

Either, because of all the fuss involved, one may find it hard not try to read the message behind the suspension. I mean, will it be crazy to assume the decision to suspend Hon. Kabwe, was intended to send a message to other “wakorofi wachache” who would dare to quiz an honorable minister in the “run-public”?
And by the way, … by suspending an elected legislator from attending legitimate sessions… who is getting punished here? - the legislator or the people who elected him?
And finally, Of course everybody knows politics is a dirty game… but it is hard to not wonder if Hon. Kabwe would have been treated the same IF he would have been one of ’em - ruling party guys!
As for the rest of us…”Yetu macho”.
Ciao!