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{
    "id": 1426873,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1426873/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 164,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Orwoba",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "At the end of the day, the Senate has no role to play in this particular proposal that is being put here. I would like that to be noted because if this Bill is passed as it is, the Senate then becomes redundant in matters of delimitation of boundaries. Madam Temporary Speaker, another issue on this particular matter of delimitation of boundaries is that you will notice that it is centrally squared in the National Assembly. If we will increase or decrease the number of wards or constituencies, the first beneficiary or the first loser of that particular action is a Member of Parliament (MP) from the National Assembly. This means you are allowing the judge of the outcome of a situation where they are either a loser or a beneficiary to be someone who is already partisan. For instance, I come from Bobasi Constituency where I vied. Our constituency is very big and we have eight wards. In those eight wards, if you look at the issues that we have to deal with in our neighbouring constituency like Bonchari Constituency, even in terms of resources, it does not make economic sense. Madam Temporary Speaker, if that Bill is taken to the National Assembly, where my sitting MP of Bobasi Constituency is seated, outrightly, based on clan issues and re- election issues, he will completely vote against it having two constituencies in Bobasi. Hitherto, that is the person whom we are now entrusting squarely in terms of the delimitation of boundaries. In that aspect, I even think that if we will talk about the increase of wards, constituencies or counties, that should be a role that should either be completely independent from both Houses; the Senate and the National Assembly. This should be in a way that it is only the IEBC based on the metrics and the statistics that they have, decide what is there. If we will involve either of the Houses, it has to be both Houses voting for or against it. Since it will be both Houses benefiting or losing. I say this as a politician who gets the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) based on the number of wards that we have. If the Members are told now, “We are reducing your number of wards,” they will not vote for that thing. This is something that we have not thought through. I would propose to have both Houses completely not be part of the delimitation of boundaries in terms of the decision of whether to increase or reduce or to have both Houses come on board to vote or participate in the same. I also want to weigh in in terms of what we have on the composition of the commission. It might sound cliché that every time I stand, I will be standing on the issue of gender parity and women representation. I am specially elected to do this job of ensuring that women and girls are represented in all spaces. On the issue of the composition of the commission, there is a clear process and an outlining of who in terms of skill set or background should be appointed. Now, we are talking about bringing the accountants and adding more ICT specialists on board. The strange thing about this Bill is that it is one of the Bills under NADCO, which was a national dialogue and it was supposed to include women who form more than 51 per cent of this population. 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."
}