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{
    "id": 1142697,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1142697/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 193,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Poghisio",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Majority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 202,
        "legal_name": "Samuel Losuron Poghisio",
        "slug": "samuel-poghisio"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Speaker, there are many opportunities for exploitation of these groups and misuse unless we do some of these things formally and give a legal framework. Therefore, it is important that we bring a law that ensures that groups are recognized officially and regulated. Clauses 21 to 30 provide for the regulation of community groups, including the general objects of community groups, the appointment and the role of office bearers, the dispute resolutions in those groups, registers of members of those groups and obligation to maintain the confidentiality of members’ details. Clauses 31 to 37 provide for the financial matters relating to the community groups, including the maintenance of financial record. The responsibilities of treasurers over groups’ accounts; the power of the Director to request information and documentation from community groups; the audit of community groups which is important; resource mobilization activities by the community groups. Clauses 38 to 41 provide for the general matters. Clause 38 makes it an offence to obstruct the Director in the course of performing his or her duties, while Clause 39 provides for the general penalty. Clause 40 provides for making of regulations and Clause 41 provides for the transitional matters relating to community groups that had been registered by the National Government upon coming into force of the Bill. The First Schedule provides for the conduct of business affairs of the county and sub-county community development committees. The Second Schedule provides for matters to be provided in the constitution of the community groups. Madam Temporary Speaker, this is a very important piece of legislation. It is a very important Bill that will change the way things are done. It will make sure that we line up activities in our country that affect communities in a transparent manner; in a manner that can be held accountable. That is why we are bringing this particular Bill. I, therefore, urge hon. Members to consider and pass this important Bill, which will be the instrument in providing a legal anchorage of registration, management and regulation of community groups or by whatever name we have known them. This in turn will create an enabling environment that provides or promotes community empowerment, self-reliance and sustainable development of our community groups and projects. Madam Temporary Speaker, we all stand now to know that accounts and records will be audited, so that people who have taken advantage of community groups or those who have run away with resources of community groups will now be held to book. With those few remarks, I beg to move and ask Sen. Pareno to second. Thank you, Madam Temporary Speaker."
}