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"speaker_name": "Prof. Kibwana",
"speaker_title": "The Minister for Environment and Natural Resources",
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"legal_name": "Kibwana Kivutha",
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"content": " Mr. Speaker, December 7, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 4287 Sir, I beg to second the Motion of Adjournment. The current Session of Parliament has been quite busy and productive. We have passed the Banking (Amendment) Bill. Mr. Speaker, Sir, in terms of issues that have been unfolding within the country - I have in mind the Constitution - the multisectoral forum has done some considerable work. There has been considerable consensus in terms of the proposed law that should lead the country into finalizing the constitutional reforms. I am sure that, in due time next year, when Parliament resumes, that proposed legislation will be brought to Parliament. There should be bi-partisan support of such legislation, so that we can conclude the process of constitution making and, ultimately, the comprehensive review of the Constitution. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we achieved some positive work in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. We saw the country, very generously, hosting two major international meetings dealing with climate change and the Bazel Convention on Hazardous Waste. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I would like to thank the House and the country because the visitors who came to those meetings were received very well. They enjoyed the country. We had very important discussions and conclusions from those particular meetings. We witnessed unusual rains and floods recently. Part of that phenomenon is as a result of climate change. It is in order to appreciate the Government and different Ministries because they assisted those who were affected by floods in various ways. I, especially, thank the Ministry of State for Special Programmes, Ministry of Roads and Public Works and so on. There was timely intervention, even by the armed forces, to help our people. It is important to pinpoint that, as a country, we need to have a programme on how to deal with climate change. That is because some of those phenomena will be recurring. I also want to say that I am very grateful for the support that we have received in terms of formulating the National Land Policy that we are trying to unveil. I thank the relevant Parliamentary Committee, Members of Parliament and the country at large. I encourage further debate so that we could build the necessary consensus. There is no point of introducing a national land policy in Parliament if, as Parliamentarians, we have not developed the necessary consensus. There are very many important policy provisions that we need to agree upon as a country. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to conclude by saying that, whether it is this House, or whether it is the elite of our country, it is important to come together in terms of national interests. We should not be polarised and think that the game now is competing in the next general elections in 2007. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as a political elite and class, we must know that we have to work together. Even after the elections, we will have to work together. With those few remarks, I beg to second."
}