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{
"id": 219530,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/219530/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Mr. Mungatana",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs",
"speaker": {
"id": 185,
"legal_name": "Danson Buya Mungatana",
"slug": "danson-mungatana"
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"content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have created so many ministries in this Government, especially after the Referendum. But we have failed to create a very important Ministry. That is the Ministry that would give status to the Office of the Government Chief Whip. If we did that, the Government Chief Whip will not have to queue and wait to consult, when we needed to do those consultations yesterday. I fully concur with the proposal to create a new ministry that will fall under the Office of the President. It will be in charge of parliamentary affairs. That Ministry will be headed by the Government Chief Whip. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the same breadth, while in the process of modernising this Parliament, I want to support that perks of all Deputy Whips, both in the Government and the Opposition, should be increased. That way, we will recognise the role that they play in this House. Many times, we see them doing what they need to do. We have to accept that, that is a lot of work, especially in a situation where we have a coalition of parties. It is hard to control the whole mess that is in this House. It is time we recognized them. That recommendation must be implemented. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to agree that loudspeakers and other means of communication be placed all over. We all know hon. Members carry their mobile phones 1648 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES May 24, 2007 everywhere they go. I would suggest that a system be put in place within this House that when hon. Members are needed to be here, they can be contacted through it. These are things that we need to think about. It is possible to reach everybody with this system. Hon. Members must be able to get a special indication in the form of a call, notice or an alert coming from Parliament that they are required because there is no quorum. We need this kind of technology. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, when we ask that speakers be fitted in Continental House or any other building within Parliament, we know what we are talking about. We have about 70 offices of Government Ministers and Assistant Ministers. Our offices are located a bit far from Continental House. Many of us, do not transact our businesses within Continental House. When we are thinking about this improvement, we should also think about the possibilities of sending this information technology such that a beep can be generated from here to our offices that will alert us that we are required in Parliament. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, monitors can also be provided, so that we follow debate even where we are. This technology is available. I am not speaking about things that are not there. Most of the offices of Ministers and Assistant Ministers are fitted with televisions and computers. Therefore, it is possible for us to create technology that will be able to reach us, so that even if we are not physically present in the House, we are able to follow what is going on inside here. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am very happy to note that, in fact, tomorrow if the notice still stands, we are supposed to be amending some of the Standing Orders at Safari Park Hotel. That is a good thing, but we hope that some of these things---"
}