SPEAKER DENIES BIAS ALLEGATIONS - nbc

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, has denied accusations by some Members of Parliament that she is biased when presiding over debates. The allegations emerged during the recently concluded parliamentary session, with opposition members saying the Speaker favours the ruling party, limits debate and rushes the House to vote on key matters. Kuugongelwa-Amadhila rejected those claims, saying her rulings are guided by the Constitution and the National Assembly Rules and Orders rather than by political considerations. "I think, to the members of Parliament, there may be some who are new and have not gone through the rulebook with a fine-tooth comb. They therefore believe it when it is said that the presiding officer is biased," she said, adding that the rules leave little room for personal discretion. Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said it is therefore difficult for a presiding officer to be either fair or unfair when required to follow a strict set of procedures. She argued the only circumstance in which a presiding officer could act with bias would be if they had unfettered discretion and questioned what interest such bias would serve. "You may find someone saying, 'You allowed another person to ask a question, and now you are saying we should move to the Bills. You are biased.' But the Presiding Officer is simply applying the rules," she said. The Speaker noted that members who disagree with her rulings have formal channels to challenge them. Aggrieved members can refer rulings to the Standing Committee on Standing Rules and Orders for review, she said, and warned against disrupting proceedings or walking out of the Chamber. Kuugongelwa-Amadhila also urged the public to familiarise themselves with parliamentary rules to better understand how decisions are made. -