GET /api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1515409/?format=api
HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 1515409,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1515409/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 27,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Members, I wish to welcome you back to the house for the Fourth Session of the 13th Parliament. I trust that you had a restful and joyous Christmas and New Year break and that you also took the opportunity to engage with constituents on key development matters. I am confident that you are well rejuvenated and ready to embark on the business that is ahead of us this session, which marks the midterm of the 13th Parliament. At the outset, I wish to thank you all for availing yourselves of the Special Sitting held on Thursday, 16th January 2025, during which the House transacted priority business. I also wish to thank Members for their participation in the just-concluded Members' Midterm Retreat which took place from January 27th to 31st 2025 as scheduled and witnessed the highest-ever turnout of Members. On behalf of the leadership of the House, I extend our gratitude to all of you for your participation. This made the retreat a great success and positioned the House for smooth take-off in the Fourth Session. Several resolutions were adopted at the retreat and are currently being implemented progressively by the Office of the Clerk. Among the key outcomes of the retreat was the identification of possible areas that require the National Assembly's legislative intervention. Indeed, some of those resolutions may be contained in unpublished legislative proposals by Members, totalling 283 which are undergoing processing. Members who sponsored those proposals are requested to indicate if they still wish to proceed with them or withdraw any that may have since been overtaken by events. Additionally, the retreat underscored the need to maintain the momentum demonstrated during our deliberations, particularly in expediting priority business in the Fourth Session, and strengthening the oversight functions of the House through its committees. I advised Members who have Bills to get in touch with various committees in my management meeting today. We noticed that there are certain proposals to amend certain Acts that come from 10 different Members on the same issue. So, if Members can get in touch with the Office of the Clerk, we can collapse some of those proposals so that this huge number that does not reflect reality gives way to the actual number of pending Bills. On matters of Social Health (SHA), you will recall that there were concerns by Members about its implementation and also feedback being received from the people regarding the management of the transition process. In this regard, I instructed the Departmental Committee on Health to meet the Ministry of Health and Social Health Authority officials to enquire into the matter and appraise the House by way of a Statement. I will, therefore, accord the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Health, at some point this afternoon, an opportunity to appraise the House on the outcome of the meeting. As we commence the Fourth Session, I wish to bring to the attention of the House the term of the following 18 committees lapsed today, 11th February 2025, being the first Sitting of the Fourth Session. The first category, which lapses every session, is the Housekeeping Committees. These are: 1. House Business Committee (pursuant to Standing Order 171); 2. The Committee on Member Services and Facilities (pursuant to Standing Order 212B); 3. The Committee of Powers and Privileges (section 15 of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act; and 4. The Procedure and House Rules Committee (pursuant to Standing Order 208). The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}