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{
    "id": 360747,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/360747/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 115,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Members, I do not need any assistance on that. I can dispose it of quickly. I can tell from the outset that the hon. Member wants to filibuster; but let me give you this advice for free, as your Speaker. Article 107 of the Constitution does not bar the Speaker from chairing any committee set up by this House. Indeed, if that was the case, then you would find it inconsistent that Article 127, which establishes the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), inconsistent with Article 107, since then the Speaker would only preside over deliberations in the House. The fact that the Speaker is the Chairman, constitutionally, of the PSC, which commission presents budgets of the Commission, which takes care of hon. Members welfare--- That report usually is debated here without any issue that the Speaker should move from the Chair because he is, obviously, a Member of Parliament. The first oath that I took was as a Member of Parliament and, therefore, you would be saying that Article 107 and Article 127 are in contradiction with each other. However, more importantly, you in your wisdom, as a House, made several decisions regarding which committees the Speaker should chair – among them the House Business Committee and the Procedure and House Rules Committee. So, surely, as I said from the outset, your point is either out of the fact that you have not fully applied your mind to the various positions in the Constitution, so as to see that the Speaker has no personal interest in this matter. Indeed, even a decision by the PSC, which the Speaker signs, is amenable to amendments on the Floor of this House. The Speaker has no vote. It is up to the House in plenary to decide what to do with any report of any committee, whether the committee was chaired by the Speaker or not; every committee is a committee of the House and, therefore, the report is presented to the plenary for the plenary to deal with as appropriate. Therefore, I rule that there is nothing unconstitutional. There is no conflict and debate should proceed. Yes, Hon. A.B. Duale."
}