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{
    "id": 33079,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/33079/?format=api",
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    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, this Bill also sets out very high qualifications and standards particularly on experience for the chairperson and members of the Commission. The chairperson must have knowledge and, at least, 15 years experience in matters relating to law and human rights in addition to proven integrity. You will find that in Clause 7. I strongly recommend this to this House and the country at large. You will notice that those are the same standards and qualifications that we require for persons seeking to serve in our Supreme Court. We have also proposed an extremely transparent and competitive recruitment process with a selection panel drawn from the public and private sector, as well as from professional bodies and representation from special interest groups. I encourage hon. Members to look carefully at Clause 11(2) of the Bill and improve the Bill by making any comments or recommendations that may be forthcoming. Mr. Speaker, Sir, because this is a subject that one can say is bespoke. The country has gone through an enormous amount of debate over the last 20 years on the Bill of Rights, starting with issues touching on detention without trial, the problems that the country has gone through - and if you can recall - such as torture, we are now beginning to see cases being filed in court by those who suffered those atrocities. We are a country that has been challenged on issues such as extra-judicial killings. We are a country that has been challenged and received adverse reports from such organizations like Amnesty International. I do not want to appear to be preaching to the choir. Hon. Members in this House, this afternoon, will appreciate the historic moment that we have now, coming barely 11 months after the promulgation of the new Constitution. Therefore, permit me to state that this Bill provides an important milestone in our efforts to protect and promote human rights. The Bill will, definitely, give life to the fundamental rights by establishing a body that will ensure that all state organs respect and protect human rights. I urge hon. Members to consider and enact this Bill into law because that is what our Constitution demands. Indeed, even if the Constitution did not demand it, I would still have brought this Bill because the time for it has come. Should Members find that they want to propose any amendments to it, I will be available, I am always available and I will continue being so, so that once we pass the law, it reflects the broad spectrum of peoples’ views. I want to conclude by asking hon. Members to look carefully at Article 59 and recognize that we have now started, as a Ministry and as Government, the policy of bringing to life - and particularly to implementation - the provisions of that very important Article of the Constitution. I beg to move. My very good friend, hon. James Orengo, a man who, at one time, suffered a broken arm arising from violations of the Bill of Rights, has kindly agreed to second the Bill. I beg to move."
}