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{
    "id": 1055690,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1055690/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 248,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Seme, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr.) James Nyikal",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 434,
        "legal_name": "James Nyikal",
        "slug": "james-nyikal"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for giving me an opportunity to contribute to this Bill. I rise to support it. This Bill, which seeks to amend the proceeds of crime law, carries the sentiments of many people. Many communication companies are conducting more than one business with one registration and one regulation. I do not think that is fair. They are basically in communication business like mobile banking. You will also find radio and televisions stations not only doing communication, but also in banking, giving credit services and engaging in betting. Some radio stations engage in free betting. Even toddlers can bet if they listen to such radio stations. They are also in the business of collecting royalties. They tell you: “If you want this tune, pay so much money.” I believe those are royalties that are being collected. All this cannot be transacted using one licence. Even though the Companies Act says that you can do anything else, in terms of regulation and neatness, there is need to separate these businesses. I think it is a way of avoiding paying tax. If they were all regulated differently, we shall collect more taxes. Clause 3 of the Bill talks about quality of service. This relates to services where if anything goes wrong in your interaction, there is nothing you can do. You may be making a very important call, sometimes an international call. Some people may be transacting business, but if the line is disconnected, that is it. The service provider does not suffer anything. In fact, you pay them. I agree that Clause 3 needs to be looked at. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, on the use of the Universal Services Fund, any funds collected using public services are public funds. Therefore, it is extremely important that we have proper regulation of the Fund. It should be well structured with clear objectives, and it should go to public service. I know it may be used to improve the quality of service, but it should even support the connectivity of networks. It should support information centres like the ones we are putting up in our constituencies. I do not see why we cannot draw that money at the constituency level to improve the centres we are putting up. In that way, we can help in employing the youth and improving their skills. To that extent, I see all the clauses that are in the Bill, and I support."
}