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{
    "id": 145968,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/145968/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 242,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "The option of investing more resources in the expansion of infrastructure to open more roads everywhere in the country, build dams and bridges and even foot bridges for the very poor, set up irrigation schemes, build hospitals, schools, and provide energy to our people. In short, increasing public spending to create more jobs. This is the answer we have to provide for the situation we are facing today. Somebody may ask: “Where are we going to get the resources to put into public spending?” In my view, the answer is that we will borrow. In the past, we have not. We have been afraid of borrowing. This fear, in my opinion, is misplaced. I see nothing wrong in borrowing money to spend to create more job opportunities. Creation of jobs in the economy can only be beneficial because it allows for more wealth creation. I think this is desirable for us as an economy. Throughout the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance’s Speech, one can see deliberate efforts to allocate more resources for the development of infrastructure. You can see that there is also a deliberate effort to try and spread this down to the constituencies and try to balance out what we have talked about; the imbalance in regional development which has created a lot of social discontent and upheaval. This effort is commendable. That is one of the reasons why I support this year’s Budget proposals presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance. However, even as we support this Budget, the real test lies with our ability to implement the proposals which we loudly support. The implementation of these proposals has been our major weakness in the past. All of us politicians are at fault because we have not pushed hard enough. The civil servants are the main culprits because they are the ones who are charged with the task of implementing Budget proposals. They have failed this country miserably in the past. We need to start by changing our attitudes. Let us change our attitudes as a nation and embrace a more positive spirit so that we can work together and move forward with resolve. We can do it. It is possible and it is doable. This is the only way we can benefit from the beautiful proposals that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance has put forward. Ministries and Government Departments must enhance their capacities to handle projects and complete them within the time allowed. It is a big shame that Ministries and Government Departments have to return money to the Treasury because they have not been able to use it. This is a shame because it only increases the poverty we are trying to fight among our people. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are other factors which we need to look at, as a Parliament, in order to allow Ministries and those others who are charged with the responsibilities to implement projects and move forward with speed. One of them is the law relating to procurement of goods and services. While the law intends to enhance transparency and openness in matters of public procurement and purchases, the law is also very cumbersome. The regulations and processes are very lengthy. As a result, they do not allow Ministries and Departments to complete the processes and undertake projects within a given financial year. Since they are cumbersome, we need to look at them once again so that we can amend them to facilitate quick transactions and enable us to move forward at the pace we would like to. The other issue I would like to raise relates to regional trade. This is trade between our country and the neighboring countries. In my view, that is one open way in which we can enhance our economy. We need to improve our competiveness, vis-`a-vis our neighbouring countries. We can only do so if we are connected by road, air and by other means to our neighbouring countries. You will recall that Kenya was one of the countries that was on the forefront in fighting for Southern Sudan to be autonomous. Having achieved that objective, we have not succeeded in tapping the opportunities that have arisen. The opportunities are being taken advantage of by other countries because we do not have a direct good road network"
}