Chairman of the State Duma Chairman of the State Duma The Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (), also called "Speaker" (), is the presiding officer of the lower house of the Russian parliament. His responsibilities include overseeing the day-to-day business of the State Duma presiding and maintaining order at the regular sessions of the parliament. The Speaker also chairs the Council of the Duma which includes representatives from all the parliamentary parties and determines the legislative agenda. The Speaker of the Duma may intervene and express his views but is supposed to be unbiased in his activities
Sibusiso Duma a 9mm Norinco pistol. On the evening of 14 October 2007, Duma and his accomplice Simphiwe Khesi had been drinking at a local shebeen. Leaving a little after 19:00, the men realised that there would be no taxis available, so planned to hijack a vehicle in order to get home. Finding a suitable vehicle, Duma shot and killed the occupant, First National Bank employee Patricia Kippen (39). The shooting brought attention from nearby residents causing the duo to abandon the vehicle. They soon found another likely target, shooting dead former Witness crime journalist Elaine Anderson (59). On 19 October 2007,