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{
    "id": 305312,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/305312/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 290,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "I was encouraging the hon. Members that we need to diversify this industry. I was giving the example of Mbita Constituency and specifically Takawiri Island; there is a very beautiful hotel. In that hotel there are already many coconut trees that are growing there. That shows the potential; if only the Government invested and actually showed that area has the capability of growing coconut trees. If the government invested in coconut growing, there would be an initiative by the ordinary members of the public to invest. You should not put in so much energy to produce for only domestic consumption. I am very happy with what the hon. Member has suggested. The only things I would want to suggest in relation to this Bill are one or two amendments. I want to talk to Clause 4. Clause 4 says the authority shall not issue a license under this Act unless it is of the opinion that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold such a license. If you do not indicate the conditions for being “fit and proper person for holding a license” then it may be subject to abuse. It would be nice, or fitting, if the hon. Member could indicate that. Again, I want to urge the hon. Member in the establishment of the board--- I know that even though is it provided for constitutionally, we shall respect the gender rule; where it is not specifically provided for by law there is a temptation to disregard it. I want to encourage the hon. Member, being a young person that he provides very specifically for the gender rule. Even though the Constitution talks about five per cent for persons with disabilities and young persons, again, unless it is provided for specifically we never seem to provide for young people and persons with disabilities. We can very specifically say that at least we provide for one person with disability and a young person; that would be very beneficial. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I would also want to urge the hon. Member under the functions of the Authority, he could provide that one of the functions is to facilitate further research on the beneficial properties of the coconut plant; further there should be a connection with either the Industrial Property Act or the Seed and Plant Varieties Act that I talked about earlier to protect the intellectual property rights in the beneficial properties of the coconut plant. I would also want to say that even in relation to the staffing, you provide that any future appointments, especially in the transitional provisions, shall observe the one third gender rule and shall also take into account the need to have young people. I had a comment on the Second Schedule. I am happy that the hon. Member has included the issue of disclosure of interests by board members. I have spoken on this before and I will speak on it again. In this country we talk to certain principles but we do not seem to understand or internalize them. One of those principles is the issue of disclosure of interest. The law does not preclude me as a Member of Parliament, or my relatives, from holding public offices. The law does not exclude members of my family from entering contracts with the government, so long as when I am sitting in a board or in a position of influence, I disclose that the person is known to me or is related to me, and that is so long as I do not in any way influence the appointment or the grant of any contract. What we seem to be doing as a country is to criminalize the work of members of public figures. One way to deal with it is to legalize the way we are doing it, which is through laws on disclosure of interests. As a country, if we do not want members of families of public figures to be involved in whatever capacity in affairs of a public nature then we must by law provide for salaries for them to stay at home. Therefore, you will have to provide a salary for my"
}