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"id": 14377,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/14377/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Musyoka",
"speaker_title": "The Vice-President and Minister for Home Affairs",
"speaker": {
"id": 188,
"legal_name": "Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka",
"slug": "kalonzo-musyoka"
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"content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, the second Statement has to do with the status of the very important Committee of this House, the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee. Mr. Speaker, Sir, on Wednesday, 19th October, 2011, the hon. Member for Chepalungu sought a Ministerial Statement from the Leader of Government Business with regard to the operation of the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs. The hon. Member also sought clarification as to why the Committee had not been allowed to meet and perform its duties despite the Leader of Government Business’ assurance on 1st September, 2011. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to give a background to this matter. The problem facing this Committee came to the attention of the House Business Committee on Tuesday, 26th April, 2011 where the Committee was informed that some hon. Members intended to move a Motion of no confidence on the chairperson. Subsequently, the Departmental Committee, by a resolution of a majority of its membership, passed a vote of no confidence on the chairperson and communicated the resolution to the Liaison Committee in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No.175. The House Business Committee revisited the matter on Tuesday, 10th May, 2011, and noted that despite efforts by the Speaker and the Chair of the Liaison Committee to resolve the problems facing the Departmental Committee, the paralysis still persisted. The House Business Committee, during its sitting on Tuesday, 17th May this year, recommended that the Liaison Committee directs the Departmental Committee to hold a meeting to elect the chairperson. It was expected that the election would bring the matter to a conclusion. The election never took place. Thereafter, three Members of the Committee tendered their resignation. Mr. Speaker, Sir, the House Business Committee, concerned that the matter was taking inordinately long to resolve, agreed on 16th August, 2011, that the only way left to effectively and conclusively bring this matter to a close was for the Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs to be reconstituted. The joint Whips were, therefore, requested to submit names of nominees for appointment to the Committee in the event that the Motion to rescind an earlier decision by the House on 17th June, 2009 of appointing the Committee Members was agreed to by the House. On 7th September, 2011, the Committee received six names and was informed that the joint Whips would submit the rest of the names in the ensuing week. Since then no other names have been submitted making it difficult for the House Business Committee to make progress. The House Business Committee has explored all avenues to resolve this stalemate facing the Committee, but apparently, no progress has been made. This has been occasioned by the very delicate nature of the processes involved which essentially require political goodwill from all sides of the House. The House Business Committee revisited the matter during its sitting last Tuesday. While noting that it must be addressed once and for all, it expects that the names that have not been submitted will be forwarded during the next sitting of the Committee which is Tuesday, 1st November, this year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir."
}