East African Legislative Assembly speaker Zziwa kicked out

ARUSHA, TANZANIA: The legislative arm of the East African Community has impeached its speaker Rt. Hon Dr. Margaret Nantongo Zziwa citing her inability to perform the functions of the office amidst accusations of misconduct.
East African Legislative Assembly meeting in Arusha on Wednesday voted to remove speaker Dr Ziwa from office.
This follows overwhelming support of the Motion for removal of the Speaker by 36 to 2 votes (signifying over two-thirds majority in excess of 30 votes) on the floor of the Assembly. Only one abstention was recorded.
The sitting was chaired by the Presiding Officer, Hon Chris Opoka Okumu who was elected to preside over the motion for removal of the Speaker on November 26th, 2014 at the sitting in Nairobi.
Immediately, the Clerk of EALA moved to declare the vacancy and announced that in accordance with Article 7 of the Rules of Procedure, the names of candidates for the election of Speaker shall be obtained within 48 hours from Friday at 3.30 pm.
Hon Zziwa who was elected EALA's first female Speaker in June 2012 when she defeated Hon Dora Byamukama's in the second round, was absent from the plenary when the motion was debated and passed.
In the report presented to the House by the EALA Chair of the Legal, Rules and Privileges Committee, Hon Frederic Ngenzebuhoro, the speaker was unable to discharge her duties as provided for and in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty and the Rules of procedure.
The Speaker is also accused of wasting resources of the Community through poor time management, unnecessary delays, and postponement of meetings.
In one instance she was accused of being absent to preside over an assembly meeting in Mombasa, Kenya.

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