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{
    "id": 290464,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/290464/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 427,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Dr. Khalwale",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 170,
        "legal_name": "Bonny Khalwale",
        "slug": "bonny-khalwale"
    },
    "content": "Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I also rise to support The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill. But my support is hinged on the fact that during the Committee of the whole House, I will endeavour to make several corrections. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, during that time, I will endeavour to restore Section 38 of the Sexual Offences Act, which this Bill is attempting to delete. I will also endeavour to restore the Industrial Court Act, which this Bill is trying to amend but, in the process, almost delete the entire Act. Also, during that stage, I intend to support my colleague who has moved to make amendments to the Elections Act. I believe it is hon. Chanzu. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, these are my reasons: If you look at what the Minister or the Attorney-General, for that matter, was doing, he was using an opportunity of this omnibus exercise to introduce major amendments to our statutes; something which I believe was not the intended purpose for this kind of Bill. If the Minister wants to make amendments to our statutes with far-reaching consequences, then he should bring that Bill on a separate Motion than to include it in the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I want to beg the Members of Parliament to realize the import of deleting Section 38 of the Sexual Offences Act. That section reads that any person who makes false allegations against another person to the effect that the person has committed an offence under this Act, is guilty of an offence and shall be liable to punishment equal to that of the offence complained of. In the last Parliament, when we were passing this law, this matter was exhaustively debated. We realized that accused persons or suspects should also enjoy protection in the law. As if it was theory then, it came to pass last week when a 90-year old in Coast Province was accused by a mother of an epileptic girl aged 15. The old man was arrested and taken to court. He could not afford bail and so, he stayed in remand for the entire period of the hearing of the matter. When the matter was heard and determined, after experts were brought in, it was established conclusively that there was no physical violation of this epileptic girl. The court was relying purely on the evidence of the mother. The old man was set free at the age of 90 years and as I speak now, the mother of that epileptic girl is at large, because now the police are looking for her to exercise Section 38. We must retain this section to protect, especially men, because some women have a tendency of using this very sensitive issue of violation to harass suspects."
}