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{
    "id": 245914,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/245914/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 170,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Bifwoli",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 208,
        "legal_name": "Sylvester Wakoli Bifwoli",
        "slug": "wakoli-bifwoli"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this Motion. I want to start by saying that this Budget is good. This Government has done very well. However, the Budget has some fundamental mistakes and I propose that they be removed so that we support it. But if they are not removed, I want to state that I will not support it. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I want to thank the Government for free primary education. During the Budget, the Minister for Finance said that the economy of this country has improved by 5.6 per cent. There is an agreement between this Government and teachers in this country. In that agreement, the Government committed itself that if the economy improves, they will pay teachers what they have agreed. Now that the economy has improved, according to the Minister's own statement, I urge this Government to pay the teachers the agreed salaries. Some of us are very ready to join the teachers if they go on strike. According to the agreement, the Government stated that it will pay the increment when the economy improves. It is the Minister for Finance who has confirmed that the economy has improved. So, why are they not honouring their own commitments? Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the free and compulsory primary education brought all the children of this country back to school, and the enrolment increased by millions. That meant that the workload for teachers increased tremendously, and they are handling more workload today. Common sense dictates that they should be compensated for the heavy workload. They should also be given good terms and conditions of service, for example, promotions. I do not understand how the Provincial Administration officers can be promoted on academic grounds while teachers are promoted on merit. If the two were jembes, which one would you sharpen to go and dig the farm? Is it the pen of a teacher or that one of the Provincial Administration official? I thought teachers needed more knowledge to go and teach our children. But if a chief, or a District Commissioner or a Provincial Commissioner passes mathematics or physics examination, what will he do with it? If a teacher studies physics and passes his examinations, he will pass the same knowledge to our children. I think the priorities of the Government are upside down. They have no idea what they are recommending for this country. They are recommending unsuitable things! Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Government is rated as a good performer because of the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF). If the CDF is not enhanced, then we will drift back to the old system. We asked the Minister for Finance to increase the allocations to the CDF from 2.5 per cent to 7 per cent to enable us do tangible development in our constituencies. Last week, I asked a Question about electricity projects in my constituency. It came out clearly that this Government is only implementing projects in the Minister's constituency. It is very clear! If you look at the health and water sector, it is the same story! The only saviour for the Backbenchers is 1624 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES June 27, 2006 the CDF. I am calling upon all the Backbenchers to rise up against the Front Bench so that we can increase the CDF allocation by force. We have no other way to get money from this Government apart from the CDF. If the Minister has ears, he should listen!"
}