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{
    "id": 196428,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/196428/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 17,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Deputy Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Members, I gave an undertaking to the House yesterday that there is going to be a considered ruling on the sitting arrangement in the House as well as the composition of the Watchdog Committees of the House; both Select and Departmental Committees. I do understand the constitutional provisions as well as the Standing Orders. But it is weighty, in the sense that in a democracy, where there is an adversarial competition between parties in a multiparty situation, you can get into a situation where you do have a very insignificant opposition at times. So, taking all those into consideration, and given the fact that there is no party that qualifies to be an Opposition party--- No Opposition party today has the mandatory minimum threshold of Members of Parliament to qualify as the Official Opposition Party. The Chair is going to give a considered ruling. We will take into consideration the need to also have the Chairs of those relevant Watchdog Committees and how they shall be selected. That will be done with all the restrictions that the Chair has in, itself, based on the status quo we have in the House. That ruling will be made tomorrow. So, hon. Members have no option but to wait for the ruling. But, since the Chair has given a ruling on the composition and the chairmanship of these very important scrutiny and Watchdog Committees, the Chair rules that the Leader of Government Business in the House and the Whips do not constitute the Committees until the ruling is given."
}