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{
    "id": 1481233,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1481233/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 229,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Prof.) Kamar",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 33,
        "legal_name": "Margaret Jepkoech Kamar",
        "slug": "margaret-kamar"
    },
    "content": "were established by colonialists and not by ourselves. Families were separated due to this. These boundaries are either roads, rivers, or lakes. They make absolutely no sense. One good example is the river that divides Uganda and Kenya which divided the Awori family. We had our own former Vice-President Moody Awori on the Kenyan side. At the same time, he was Vice-President, there was a Minister in Uganda called Aggrey Awori. They were brothers from the same father and mother following one another in birth. However, the river divided their land and this resulted in some being Ugandans and others Kenyans. This is true for most neighbourhoods along the boundaries in the African continent. The heads of states are now discussing the unification as far as trade is concerned to enable free movement of goods and persons. This will develop the continent. This boundary issue is what has caused enemity between persons who were friends. It has created tension between people who did not even know what a country meant. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I would like the Senators to note that very soon we are going to come to the House to request for ratification of the AfCTA protocol. That is going to be a breakthrough for the continent. There are a number of protocols that we hope can be ratified soon. We have the Malabo Protocol that has not been ratified in this House. We also have a number of other model laws that have been developed by the PAP. One of our projects in the PAP is to develop model laws because we are developing standards that we expect different countries to adopt. When we pass these laws in the PAP, it is expected that every country will use the same model law to introduce amendments to their own laws so that we have some standards. I want to mention a few areas where we need standards. We need standards in mining, so that the laws of mining and exploration can be the same. We know that Africa is very rich in minerals. However, because of the different approaches to mining, and ways in which policies has been crafted in each country, it is very easy for one to mine in Uganda and sell in Kenya under a completely different regime. This becomes very dangerous because you will have smugglers coming in. It is easier to mine in Kenya and sell in Uganda because the policy in Kenya allows you to mine, but does not allow you to sell in the same manner that a neighbour does. It is very easy for one to use the policies and rules in one country to their own advantage then move to the next country to do the same. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I am mentioning mineral resources because one of the things that is now coming up in the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is the need to add value. We need to have a standard way of adding value because we know that we have lost a lot as a continent for not adding value to the natural resources that we have. What is the implication? The implication is that we have sold things very cheaply as a continent and import the same more expensively after they have been value-added. So, we are the original owners of the products but expensively enjoying a product that has been added value more. That will make the continent remain poor. 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."
}