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{
    "id": 349506,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/349506/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 253,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Namwamba",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 108,
        "legal_name": "Ababu Tawfiq Pius Namwamba",
        "slug": "ababu-namwamba"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want to support this Motion and also join my colleagues in congratulating the Minister for Finance for the manner in which he has steered this critical docket. When my learned senior was appointed to this Ministry, there may have been concerns because of his professional background, but I believe that he has acquitted himself very well, especially at a time when the country has faced myriad financial challenges. We have witnessed unprecedented industrial action all across the board, with the teachers, medical professionals, civil servants, all demanding better pay. The Treasury has, indeed, done its best to deal with all those challenges. Mr. Speaker, Sir, as I support this Motion, I particularly want to draw the Treasury’s attention to the critical importance of properly anchoring the county governments and the devolved structures of governance. This could well be the final bow that we are taking as the Tenth Parliament. Therefore, this House will not be in a position, perhaps, from tomorrow onwards to sit and watch the devolved units come into place after the next elections. They will depend to a very large extent on the Treasury to show goodwill and provide sufficient support, especially for the preliminary structures required to anchor the devolved governments. I want to really urge my learned colleague, the Minister for Finance, and the Treasury generally, to go out of their way and make sure that all preparations required to ensure that we will be ready for county governments are put in place in terms of the physical infrastructure and all the software required to run them. This is also a moment when we are taking the big leap constitutionally and politically. Again, the Treasury is right at the centre of facilitating all this. I have no doubt that the hon. Minister has faith in devolution. Therefore, while at the Treasury, let him rein in any fears and apprehension that may be there, that there may be individuals who have not yet taken the step of faith to believe in devolution, to support devolution fully and, therefore, make sure that we will be ready by the time we go to the polls to ensure that devolution does take root. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I support."
}