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{
    "id": 1349623,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1349623/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 677,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mungatana, MGH",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Session, it was with a lot of difficulty because of the schedule that he had. However, he agreed to set aside time. Consequently, that was the beginning of setting aside President William Ruto, as one of the speakers for Africa. All of us in that room stood up and said that for the first time, we have a President who is speaking for Africa. We acknowledged what he did for us. We are grateful for the work that he did when he came to Midrand, South Africa. Madam Temporary Speaker, we dealt with issues to do with harmful practises against our women and children. We all agreed that things like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) should be a thing of the past and passed relevant Motions and resolutions. Madam Temporary Speaker, we spoke against trafficking of children with albinism. Great resolutions were passed during this sixth session. I urge every Member who will stand to speak to this report to support it because great things are happening. There was a reawakening of Pan-Africanism. Everybody was speaking well of what Africa can do when we come together in various sectors, including agriculture, energy and in our water resources. The Congo River, which passes through a large section of Africa, is capable of producing most of energy requirements in Africa. However, it has not been exploited properly. We need to come together so that we can exploit these resources and bring renaissance for Africa. We spoke about the need to have a new platform for trading Kenya, Uganda, Tanzanian shillings, South African Rand and all other trading currencies in Africa. We spend so much money. We debated and agreed that there was a need for us to create an African platform. Kenya was given this lead to try and create a platform where we do not have to take our money in order to just buy things from Uganda. Instead of having to purchase dollars, we give them money to purchase the dollar so that we can use those dollars to buy the commodities from Uganda or South Africa. We are promoting currencies that are outside Africa to the detriment of our own people. There was one bank owner who told us in Committee that he owns a bank that has branches across Tanzania and Burundi. He told us it is a walking distance, but because this is another country, if he wants to transfer an equivalent of US$3 million, it has to go all the way to New York. He has to pay some money then they keep the money for three days then they transfer it to the other branch. It is his own bank, but he cannot just transfer money to his bank because it is on the other side of the boarder. Africa really needs to do something. We are spending billions of Dollars paying these people and making them richer because we do not have a proper trading platform. Amongst many things that we discussed, appreciated and made resolutions on were to do with how we shall carry out trade. Madam Temporary Speaker, the intra-Africa trade is so little. The amount of trade combined from Morocco all the way to South Africa is so little as compared to the trade we do with other countries. Angola’s trade is structured in a way that it is easier for them to import things all the way from their former colonial masters than just get it from next-door; South Africa. Madam Temporary Speaker, a lot was discussed. Committees were set up to look at these things. For this reason, I commend this report to Senators to adopt it. Kenya has The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Director, Hansard and AudioServices, Senate."
}