Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 377083,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/377083/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 307,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "important Bill. The Freedom of the Media Bill is one of the Bills that would anchor our fundamental human rights and other governance entitlements that the Constitution speaks to. It is one Bill that requires that we actually take a lot of time to think through. There is a possibility that we could boycott the passing of this Motion, but the consequence of it will be that we shall be rushing through this very important Bill. That is why we made a decision that today, we need to support and actually go through the Bill. As we find ourselves in this situation, we need to question why we find ourselves in such a situation. We have commissions which are properly mandated to look at issues such as this Bill. We have the CIC and, of course, other commissions. The situation we are in regarding this Motion reminds us that we need to go on an overdrive in the exercise of our oversight mandate. I am not just saying it in the context of this Bill, but remember that in Article 35 of the Constitution we have the Freedom of Information Bill also pending. We have a host of other Bills which ought to be coming to the House to be passed so that we fully implement the Constitution. I am sorry to say this because as a Member of this House, I know the power that the law gives us in terms of dealing with those commissions. We have this Commission which should be leading in the preparation of the Bills. The CIC is not able to bring those Bills to the House in good time. However, that Commission is out there talking on virtually every issue that it cares to talk about. So, in as much as we find ourselves in a corner where we have to appear to the nation that we are bending backwards in order to discharge our legislative mandate, we must remind such commissions that for this House to function, we are waiting upon them to do particular things. Hon. Speaker, may I join those who have spoken on the side of the Majority. There is need for hon. Members to respect each other. I want to thank hon. ole Metito. Whenever we have issues that can make us move as a leadership of this nation, the approach he gives is that of courtesy and respect. It is an approach that enables you to walk with him in that path of leadership and legislation under the Constitution. We have problems where you have a leader of the House and, in fact, not a leader of the Government--- A leader of the House went out to the media and said that he can get 50 Members in the Minority side to vote the way he wants any time. It is a slur on the integrity of the leadership of this House. Such attitude ought to be avoided. I support this Motion."
}