Sitting Arrangement at the Parliament

The present sitting arrangements in the Houses of our Parliament are traditional. The Parliament was built at the time of the late Emperor Haile Selassie, in such a way as to have made the sittings in the Houses convenient for protocol purposes. They were arranged in regnant fashion to enable senate members and peoples’ representatives to see comfortably their Emperor and Empress in front of them as their majesties took their seats together with their royal entourages. That was in tune with the expression of façade democracy. So the primary concern of the sitting arrangements then had to go in line with an imperial tone where senate members and representatives of the subjects of the throne had to bow before the dignified ruler and his imperial spouse as they entered the houses and took their royal seats.
It seems to me that continuation of such sitting arrangements does not go with the aspirations of the present generation and the requirements of the times; nor would it be convenient for purposes of presentation of reports and holding important discussions that would normally follow the reports; unlike the old fashion of the imperial days where august speeches were only heard.
Of course, in normal discussion hours outside the Emperor’s presence, those who gave reports used to sit in front of the representatives at the raised platform which was better, but, not entirely convenient since there were no much arguments over any issue to the magnitude of circumstances that we have come to know in the present day heated discussions. Thus, the continuation of the old sitting arrangements makes the present situation clumsy. As we observe periodically, the delivery of reports by the Head of Government and the ensuing discussions over important matters require commensurate changes in sitting style.
Today, the Head of Government sits facing the podium and the speakers of the Houses in close proximity instead of the peoples’ representatives. Obviously, one may argue that as long as the sound system is available it would not be that important to change the sitting arrangements. However, the fact of the matter is different. Eye contacts are lacking. Representatives sit behind him and a few at his sides. They miss the eye contacts, the body movements and the facial expression of the leader, and he misses in turn theirs in the course of the delivery of his speech and the ensuing debates.
Generally speaking, in human behaviors, moods become active or passive depending on circumstances; as long as one is not seen directly, the likelihood of making fierce reactions would be high that could be otherwise minimized through direct eye contacts. That is why moods tend to take different trends in the absence of this essential element. Sometimes they will also be a cause for bickering over other matters such as the duration of time between a representative and the speakers of the houses.
Conversely, if sitting arrangements were reordered, eye contacts and body movements would have changed the entire atmosphere of the meetings to a good extent.
As we are in the 21st century, we have to be answerable to requirements of the times. The period we are in requires that we have to change and move towards quality outputs. Quality does not come out of the blue without a new set of mind, thus, it requires deliberate change of attitude.
I understand the problems involved in bringing such meaningful changes that I stand for at the old place; and those changes would not come overnight, anyway. Yet the leadership may think supremely to preserve the present houses of parliament as they are and as a heritage of the previous era. I have no counter arguments over that, and I applaud the choice of the State to continue the sit of the legislative body at the old place without evoking any change until the time matures for owning a better environment, a sentiment which I dare not disown.
However, I feel some improvisation is timely and possible provided that reconfiguration of the present sitting arrangements is made with some alteration of the floor level. If that is the case, then, modern sitting arrangements will sure create an ambiance of better communication and closeness through eye contacts and parliamentary practices will take a sharp turn in hastening the findings of palatable solutions to common problems of different perspectives by lessening time waster arguments.