BY ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED
The House of Peoples’ Representatives has been criticized for years as it has been unproductive with regard to fulfilling its constitutional mandate as effectively and industriously as possible. Members of the House have recurrently been regarded as too passive to represent the general citizenry since societal need for democracy has remained unmet; the looting of national has been rampant across the nation as well as the extreme sluggish pace of projects in the country.
Despite the fact that there has been relative freedom for parliamentarians over the past three years, members have been criticized for pursuing a biased approach rather than focusing on issues that solve national problems. Particularly, the way in which Members of the Parliament (MPs)have addressed the issue of attacks on civilians in various parts of the country has exposed them to criticism.
This week, the way in which MPs have raised questions and suggestions, regarding the security situation in North Shewa zone and Oromo special zone in Amhara regional state, at the House’s meeting, which was attended by the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD),has been widely criticized.
In connection with the aforesaid issue, members of the House told the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) that partisan questions and suggestions that violate the procedures of the House are unacceptable.MPs should be a role model for their people by avoiding hate speech and false information through implementing and respecting the proclamation they approved in connection with this issue.
ChalaLemi, MP, said that members of the House have a responsibility to seek solution for abuses committed against the people they represent, but MPs should express their views in a way that is not emotional and does not harm the minds of the people.
Ayalew Ayza, MP, on his part stated that, given the current situation in Ethiopia, the nation does not need divisive ideas, but will strengthen the unity of the people and bring peace. “MPs have a duty to work to be a key part of the peace building process and not to aggravate the problem,” he added.
“As we have come from different parts of the country, it is not appropriate to exaggerate our local issues and underestimate others’,” said Askal Tilahun, MP. She also insisted that issues raised by the MPs should be based on solid evidence and approved by the relevant body.
MPs also called on all members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives to fulfill their responsibilities in accordance with the rules and regulations of the council.
Senior legal expert Amdegebriel Admassu stated that following 2005 national election, various voices were heard for five years and there were hot debates and discussions that time because the parliamentarians were from various political parties.
However, since 2010 all seats of the House of Peoples’ Representatives have been occupied by the members of the ruling party (Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) in its former name though converted into Prosperity Party (PP) since recently).
Having a short stay with The Ethiopian Herald, Amdegebriel said that although there is relative freedom for parliamentarians to discharge their constitutional mandates after the coming of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) into power, they are wasting their times on unnecessary ethnic issues instead of focusing on scientific and reasonable ones. “This is the result of our identity and ethnic based politics.”
He also explained that the mandates of the members of the House of Peoples’ Representatives are briefly explained in the constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE). Article 54 (4) of the constitution stipulates that members of the House are representatives of the Ethiopian People as a whole. MPs are governed by the constitution of the country, will of the people, and their conscience, he added.
Recently, members of the House are not acting as representatives of the Ethiopian people as whole as they are not expressing their views in a way that respects the dignity of the people, he stated. “Even though all the MPs are members of the same political party, they are often divided during their meeting. Their division is not based on differences of opinion, but on partisan feeling,” he noted.
According to him, issues that create grievances among Ethiopians, and provoke and escalate conflicts are being raised by the parliamentarians, especially representatives from two states with greater population in number.
He stressed that parliamentarians need to reflect the views of their electorates, not their own personal beliefs, since they represent, are working for, the people of the nation as a whole.
If the public is being oppressed and parliamentarians want to ask the executive body for solution, there is a clear set of procedures that MPs should follow, he further stated. He added that they can contact the executive bodies through the respective standing committee of the House or they can invite officials to the House for hearing.
Referring to article 55 (17) of the constitution, he said that MPs have the power to call and to question the Prime Minister and other Federal officials and to investigate the Executive’s conduct and discharge of its responsibilities. Besides, “When any matter is presented to the House, it should be in a way that solves the problems and answers the people’s questions,” he opined.
He also stated that the main solution to the aforesaid problems is creating national consensus, amending unnecessary provisions of the constitution, and working to stabilize the ethnic tension that has reached its peak.
Setegn Addisu, member of the House of Peoples’ Representatives on his part indicated that as stated in the Rules of Procedures and Members’ Code of Conduct Regulation, the right of every member to freely express his/her opinion in the meetings of the House shall be respected in accordance with article 54 (5) of the constitution. However, there are rules to be followed by MPs at the meeting of the House, he noted.
Referring to the aforementioned regulation, Setegn said that, at the House’s meeting, MPs speech shall be relevant to the agenda under debate, and it shall be precise, clear and limited to the time allowed. And also, their speech shall respect the prestige and dignity of the House, its members, other persons and institutions.
He further stated that MPs make a speech based on good faith or truth, and they shall not make speech that disturbs the peace and security of the country and its peoples.
“We have been guided by the aforesaid rules for years and still we are guided by them,” he indicated.
When a member violates the rules and regulations of the House, the Speaker has the power to take appropriate action, he said adding that where the fault is serious or is committed repeatedly, the House shall give its decision or order the Legal, Justice and Democracy Affairs Standing Committee to conduct investigation and submit the result to it. Then the House shall pass a decision.
As to him, recently, MPs activities deviated from the code of conduct have been witnessed meetings.For example, the way in which some MPs made a request at a recent meeting attended by the Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) was inappropriate, he added.
He further noted that either institutions or individuals should not be blamed without evidence at the House’s meeting.
He also stressed that the aforesaid contains many good things, but it has some provisions that need to be amended.
The Ethiopian Herald March 28/2021
