Rwanda opposes move to trim EALA powers

Rwanda will reject a proposal that seeks to prohibit members of the East African Legislative Assembly from initiating private bills in the legislative body, East African Affairs Minister, Monique Mukaruliza said on Thursday. The proposal was mooted during the 25th meeting of the Council of Ministers held in the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, in August, this year, after Tanzania sought to amend Article 59 of the Treaty, which allows members to initiate private motions in the assembly.“Our position is that members have rights. I think those who proposed it had their own issues, but for us in Rwanda, we don’t have any problem. Private members’ bills should continue,” the minister said, adding that the government was aware of the importance of private bills. She opined that before the bill is passed in the regional assembly, it must be discussed at the national level, insisting that there is no reason why member states should be obstructed from performing their duties.If the proposed bill sails through, only the Council of Ministers would have the power to initiate private members’ bills in the House.Article 14, section 3 of the treaty on the functions of the Council gives them authority to initiate and submit bills to the assembly.EALA member and vice chairperson of Rwandan chapter, Jacqueline Muhongayire, said it was a critical issue, adding that initiation of private bills is a universal principle of parliaments.She admitted that EALA members were yet to submit their concerns to the Council of Ministers, noting that there should be a proper framework for operationalisation of the articles.Another EALA member from Kenya, Abubakar Zein Abubakar, who was in Rwanda for EALA’s oversight mission on promotion of citizens involvement in the bloc’s integration process, similarly opposed the proposals.“If you take away the capacity of members to generate private members bills, you are undermining the principle of separation of powers. You will also be undermining the oversight role of MPs and you will be reducing the democratic space of citizens,” Abubakar explained, adding that the argument brought forward to amend the article lacks sound reasons.“When a private member introduces a bill, there is a procedure, there are restrictions. You just can’t introduce any bill. The Speaker must be convinced that it is appropriate before the House.”EALA, which is the legislative organ of the EAC, consists of 52 members, of whom 45 are elected with nine from each of the partner states as well as seven ex-officio members. The latter include the Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs from the Partner States, the Secretary General of the Community and the Counsel to the Community.

National

Rwanda opposes move to trim EALA powers