Bunge invokes orders to admit Sitta's body in debating chamber

 

NATIONAL Assembly yesterday resolved to temporarily invoke House Standing Orders to allow the body of former Speaker Samuel Sitta into the debating chamber for last respects today.

The former speaker and cabinet member died on the wee hours of Monday at the Technical University Hospital in Munich, Germany, where he had been flown for medical treatment. 

 

In reminiscence of his unparallelled contributions and outstanding leadership, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Job Ndugai, said the House is set to give the fallen speaker a befitting goodbye.

He said the last respects paying session will be beamed live in honour of Sitta, the brainchild behind the introduction of live coverage of parliamentary sessions.

"The late Sitta did a lot to this country. He did exemplary work for this Parliament during his leadership. We are going to give him the respect he deserves," Mr Ndugai told parliamentarians, adding that the body is expected at Dodoma Airport from Dar es Salaam at around 2pm and thereafter driven straight to the Parliament premises.

The Parliament Office will pick ten Members of Parliament (MPs), led by the speaker, to represent the House at the burial ceremony scheduled for tomorrow at his birthplace - Urambo District in Tabora Region.

The late Sitta was first elected MP for Urambo Constituency in 1975 and went on to serve in different political and leadership positions until he voluntarily quit active politics last year.

Known for his 'Speed and Standard' catchphrase, he will be mostly remembered for his five years of steering the ninth Parliament between 2005 and 2010 and his leadership when he chaired the Constituent Assembly that came up with the proposed draft constitution that awaits the referendum.

He also served the nation as Minister for Transport and Minister for East African Cooperation, before quitting politics.

The Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office -Parliamentary Affairs, Labour, Employment, Youth and People with Disability, Ms Jenista Mhagama, announced the temporal invoking of the House Orders to allow the body and 12 relatives to enter into the National Assembly.

Sitta's body arrived at Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) at around 3pm yesterday ahead of its burial tomorrow. Vice-President, Ms Samia Suluhu Hassan, was among government officials, political party leaders and mourners who received the casket bearing the body of the Speaker of the Ninth Parliament and Chairman of Constituent Assembly.

Other government officials present were Chief Secretary (CS), Ambassador John Kijazi, Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Ummy Mwalimu, Minister of State in the President's Office, Public Service Management and Good Governance, Angela Kairuki and Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Dr Augustine Mahiga.

Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Spokesperson Christopher Ole Sendeka and Civic United Front (CUF) leader Professor Ibrahim Lipumba were among political leaders at the airport.

Ms Suluhu, who assisted Sitta as the Vice-Chairperson of the Constituent Assembly, described her former boss as an exemplary leader who did not give up easily in pursuit of fairness.

Prof Lipumba termed the late Sitta as a democratic champion who stood for fair grounds despite coming from the ruling party, adding the former speaker spearheaded the war against corruption.

Meanwhile, President John Magufuli yesterday led hundreds of mourners in Dar es Salaam to pay last respects to former cabinet member and long serving Mufindi MP Joseph Mungai.

The late Mungai died suddenly on Tuesday evening at 73 after abruptly falling ill and will be laid to rest tomorrow afternoon at his home village in Iringa region's Mufindi District. Mungai's son, Jimmy, said in Dar es Salaam yesterday that his father had complained about stomachache before he started vomiting continuously.

He was rushed to Lancaster Hospital at Oysterbay where he was referred to Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) but died on the way. Other government officials who paid last respects to Mungai at Karimjee grounds in Dar es Salaam were retired President Benjamin Mkapa, former Vice-President Mohamed Gharib Bilal, former First Lady Salma Kikwete and Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM)’s Vice -Chairman Philip Mangula, among others.

Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Minister, Ambassador Augustine Mahiga, said Mungai will be remembered for his immense contributions to community development activities.

“Together with her wife, they have built various schools in Mafinga that are benefiting community members in the region,” he said. Dr Mahiga said the late Mungai taught other leaders a true meaning of being a leader, saying leadership skills should not be taken for granted, but should be well interpreted to benefit those around.

Born in 1943, Mungai who is survived by a widow and seven children, served as MP for Mufindi for 35 years and held various cabinet positions in both four government phases. He was agriculture minister (1972-75 and 1980-82) under former President Julius Nyerere.

 In November 2000, he was appointed minister for Education and Culture by former President Benjamin Mkapa.

In October 2006 to February 2008 he served as Minister for Home Affairs under Jakaya Kikwete. The late Mungai was a graduate of Colorado University and Harvard University with a Master of Public Administration. 

Speaking on behalf of the family, George Mungai said it was a pride to have many people who consoled and helped them to arrange the burial ceremony.