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{
    "id": 156010,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/156010/?format=api",
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    "content": "to congratulate the House because it has been very sensitive to gender issues and we have passed a list that follows our rules. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is my hope that when the President looks at the list, he will continue to follow its style and give us balanced lists in the future. The Committee on National Cohesion and Integration attracted many women applicants. From the Report that came from the Committee, there were more women applicants more than men. Why was this? This is because the women’s agenda has always been an agenda of peace; being mothers, sisters and wives. Women have always sold the message of peace more than men. So, it is only fair that when we have a committee like this one of National Cohesion, if we use women, we will do a lot. We know that women have been involved in conflict resolution. If you look at the statistics of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) that have been involved in peace building, you will find that women have done more than any other group in this country. Therefore, it is only honorable that women be honoured this time. I look forward to having two-thirds of women more than men because this is natural in them. It is something that we know they can do. They have the capacity and the ability. You will realize when you look at the list, qualifications aside, we have women who are highly qualified, even in the original list. This tells us that our women are able, capable and we are expecting a lot from them. It is my belief that this Committee, even when we have two-thirds of them as we hope, being women, we will do a wonderful job. My appeal to the House is that this Committee is one of the most important committees, especially now when we are healing as a nation. National cohesion is a by- product of the problems we had after the 2007 General Election. It is my prayer that this House will take this Committee very seriously and support it in all ways. This is a Committee that should have started its work much earlier than today. My appeal is that we ensure that the appointment of this Committee is done as soon as possible so that it can start its work. Areas that require intervention will be visited and handled. We know that we still have IDP camps and we still have other people who have not been settled. However, the presence of such a committee will create a lot of hope in the hearts of many who are very desperate. We know that our youths are not in a good situation and we need to build hope in them. Apart from everything else, we need to make them have a sense of belonging, love and unity amongst themselves. This Committee will have a broad spectrum of a gender that will cover some of these areas. I will not take long. Mine is just to support and congratulate the Committee and the House for giving us a Committee that is this time very realistic on the representation of women. I support."
}