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{
    "id": 1371783,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1371783/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 150,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Maanzo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13589,
        "legal_name": "Maanzo Daniel Kitonga",
        "slug": "maanzo-daniel-kitonga"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me an opportunity to contribute to this very important Bill. Article 125 of the Constitution gives the House powers equivalent to that of the High Court. What happens in the High Court? First, there can be contempt of court at the High Court and when you are contemptuous of the High Court, the judge has powers to order the orderlies who are there within the court to arrest you or be sought by police and be brought before the court. If they do not purge the contempt, then they are committed for either six months or as the judge decides. When we compare that with this House in terms of our production of documents and how to issue permission or requests to examine witnesses abroad. That can still be done by this House. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the difficulty we are confronted with is one whereby the police are not willing to do their job or are unable to find this particular person to present them before the House. If they find them, we do not have enough teeth to bite. I believe this is what Hon. Osotsi is seeking. The enhancement of the fines is good, but we need to have more teeth than just fines, now that we are equivalent to the High Court in terms of the powers the committees of this House exercise."
}