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{
    "id": 1590693,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1590693/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 182,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Cherarkey",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Based on this Memorandum, it should stop at “adoption” because the moment you add the word “affinity”, it changes the meaning. It means somebody you have affinity to as a friend, be it male or female or somebody you banter or work with. So, on the issue of ethics report, that definition should be ethics and anti-corruption. If the definition only comes out as ethics, then we can equate it to the Ethics Commission, but it should be Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. I wanted to say something on the manner in which undeclared assets has been proposed, but I will reserve those to Clause 6. I will make that comment at that point. We must drop the issue of affinity because it is unfair. It will undermine freedom of association as provided by the Constitution. Affinity allows friendships and acquaintances. What this means is that if a public officer is found to have committed an economic crime, people close to him or his associates, which is not properly defined by law, can run into problems. This is, therefore, undermining the principle and the freedom of association as enshrined by the Constitution. So, it is a nullity. I hope the Chairperson of the Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights is listening keenly. It is dangerous to have this clause in the Bill because if one is to go for Sen. Abdul Haji over an economic crime, then his friends like Sen. Cherarkey will be in trouble. We must drop it in order for us not to undermine freedom of association within the setup. We all know that in an African setup, families are huge. In fact, I have cousins that I have not seen in the last many years. That is my worry on this. On the issue of undeclared assets, I will come back to it when we will be looking at Clause 6. Thank you, Mr. Temporary Chairman, for the indulgence."
}