PIB Delay: Reps blame Presidency

House of Representatives, has accused the Presidency of frustrating timely passage of Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB. The bill was tabled before the House when members held last plenary before proceeding on vacation. The leadership of the House had indicated before going on recess that it would start consideration of the PIB when it resumed from the long break.

Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Mr Albert Sam-Tsokwa, said it was disturbing that it took the executive over one year to re-work the bill. He said the delay in consideration of the bill was occasioned by the inexplicable delay by the executive in drafting the new bill. He said that if the executive was genuinely committed to the PIB, it would have been more proactive in handling the bill, arguing that the House had proved several times that it placed national interest above other issues.