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{
    "id": 1271417,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1271417/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 569,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13217,
        "legal_name": "Cherarkey K Samson",
        "slug": "cherarkey-k-samson"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, from the outset, I support the extension of time for this Ad Hoc Committee because we are dealing with a very serious issue. The issue of religion is personal. Therefore, this is a procedural Motion that should not take a lot of time. The issue of Shakahola shocked not only the country, but also the world. We are meant to understand that exhumation is still ongoing. More bodies are being retrieved and post-mortem conducted by the Government. I have a few concerns, which the Committee can consider in future. We must relook at the issue of tabling a preliminary report, so that we know the progress. A blanket approval of extension leaves us with more questions than answers. For instance, there are prisoners of conscience. The Government has taken people away from Shakahola, but instead of releasing them, they are now being taken to prisons or police stations. These are people who are traumatised. They need counselling other than arrests or detention. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, we also need them to widen the net and ensure that they listen to every religious organisation in this country, including ‘ Yesu wa Tongaren’ and others. All religious organisations should be listened to, so that we understand. I appeal to the Committee not to, in any way, try to regulate or micro-manage the running of religious organisations in this country. It will be a disaster. What we can do is to create a regulatory framework where religious organisations can self-regulate themselves, just like other organisations such as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the civil society because we do not want to run the risk of creating another avenue for corruption. It is not the business of Government or anybody else to try and micromanage what happens within religious organisations, as long as they meet the bear minimum of the established legal framework. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the quick fix that this Committee should have done is to liaise with the Ministry of Interior and National Administration and ensure that the bodies whose post-mortem report is out are released to their families and next of kin for decent burial. I hope that as the Committee sits with the Ministry and Government, it will be on the lookout, so that we do not witness again the re-emergence of such incidences like Shakahola."
}