…House adjourns Debate at request of Council of Ministers, but says delay in culminating key Bill ‘not healthy’
East African Legislative Assembly, Arusha, Tanzania: January 27, 2016: Debate on the EAC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Bill 2013 shall now be prioritised during the next Plenary in March 2016.
The move follows the adjournment of debate on the Bill occasioned by a Motion moved yesterday by the Chair of the Council of Ministers, Hon Dr. Susan A. Kolimba. The Motion however sailed through after further amendment tabled by Chair of the Regional Affairs and Resolution Committee, Hon Abdullah Mwinyi.
Moving the substantive motion, the Chair of Council of Ministers indicated that more time was necessary to conclude consultations on the Bill vis a vis the relevant provisions of the EAC Treaty and the Protocol on Peace and Security and requested the House for debate to be pushed until August 2016.
“Clearly, the nature of the Bill needs handling at a technical level by the relevant Sectoral Councils under the guidance of the Sectoral Council on Environment and Natural Resources, which is yet to conclude its policy input on this matter”, the Chair of Council said.
“Since 2013, consultations have been going on relating to the Bill. The 2nd Extra Ordinary Sectoral Council on Environment and Natural Resources held on 12th March 2015 considered the Bill and directed the EAC Secretariat to a technical paper on an appropriate institutional arrangement for disaster Risk reduction and management by April 2015 and share the technical paper with Partner States for comments,” Hon Dr Kolimba said.
“Furthermore, the Council directed Partner States to submit their comments on the technical paper on an appropriate institutional arrangement on EAC Disaster Risk Reduction and Management by 15th May 2015,” the Minister added.
She noted that the Council of Ministers would be ready to bring its input into the Bill in August 2016.
However, majority of Members while opposing the Motion cited the urgent need to dispose off with the Bill, stating, that disasters did not wait for time.
“We must be seen to be addressing the plight of the people and urgently so,” Hon Mike Sebalu remarked. Hon Abubakar Zein called for the fastracking of the remaining stages necessary to pass the Bill, while Hon Abubakr Ogle said the Bill had been on the cards for far too long. Hon Dora Byamukama said the Summit of EAC Heads of State were on record and had given directive of the need to pass the Bill and that of Cross-Border Legal Practice.
“Let us not belabour disaster risks yet the public hearings were completed sometime back,” Hon Judith Pareno said. Hon Patricia Hajabakiga, the original mover of the Bill gave a background of its genesis and termed its enactment as long overdue. Others who contributed to the debate included Hon Shyrose Bhanji who said it was important for Partner States to make their input to facilitate ownership whence passed, Hon Mumbi Ngaru and Hon Ussi Maryam.
Hon Abdullah Mwinyi then rose to move an amendment to the Motion under Rule 30 (a) of the Rules of Procedure to provide for adjournment until March 2016 at the next Plenary Sitting. The amendment was seconded by Hon Martin Ngoga, Hon Adam Kimbisa and Hon Chris Opoka.
The Objective of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Bill, 2013 is to provide a legal framework at regional and national level for timely intervention in disaster situations and to protect the people and the natural environment affected by disaster through comprehensive disaster risk reduction and management.
The Bill which was due for the 3rd reading at the 4th meeting of the 2nd Session in Kampala, Uganda in January 2014, but was yet adjourned at the request by the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers.
As per the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, after its first Reading, the Bill was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources for scrutiny. The Committee subsequently scheduled public hearings on the Bill in the EAC Partner States in order to enlist more holistic views from the stakeholders of the Bill.
In December 2010, EALA Committee on Agriculture Tourism and Natural Resources held key discussions with a delegation from the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR).
The meeting was called to raise awareness within the legislature on the importance of disaster risk reduction as an instrument for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). EALA and UNISDR further agreed to collaborate to develop a model legislation which can be used to support the efforts of the EAC Partner States in building disaster resilience in East Africa.
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East African Legislative Assembly;
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Arusha, Tanzania
