E. Equatoria deputy speaker threatens to throw out indecently dressed MPs

August 30, 2013 (TORIT) – The Deputy Speaker of Eastern Equatoria State Paul Napwon has threatened to block members of parliament who come to the house while indecently dressed.

Paul Napwon told the MPs that they should dress according to the regulations of the house or risk being thrown out, Emmanuel Radio reported on Tuesday.

The deputy speaker said he and the speaker are mandated by the rules and regulations of parliament to ensure legislators follow the dress code.

He said MPs will not be allowed to enter parliament while wearing slippers except in cases where they have pains or feet injuries.

According to the deputy speaker, parliamentarians should be exemplary as they are role models to the communities they represent.

“We have no desire of playing fashion dressing in this institution, however, the inappropriate manner in which some of them [MPs] dress everyday shows a total lack of respect to the debate and the decorum of the House”, said the deputy speaker.

The state assembly in Eastern Equatoria stipulates that its members dress decently so as not to bring the image and reputation of the house into disrepute.

“If you look at the rules, you can’t dress without sleeves, with buttons. That is not allowed for a member of parliament’,’ said Robert Okumu, a state member of assembly for Eastern Equatoria.

(ST)