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{
    "id": 422134,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/422134/?format=api",
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    "content": "Mr. Speaker, Sir, I want you to listen to this. Every single Bill that originates in the National Assembly but is not considered by the Senate, in effect, undermines the authority of the Speaker of the Senate. Therefore, this is a matter which you have to find a way of resolving. You have made an attempt through the courts. However, you know about the historical struggles between the House of Commons and the House of Lords. It was not very easy to see where the authority lay but it was a historical struggle for the House of Commons to assert its feet. We are not fighting for supremacy, as it were, because we are all organs of the Constitution. The Constitution is Supreme and we believe in constitutionalism. As we speak now, the real legal situation is that 95per cent of the laws that have been assented to by the President are invalid by virtue of the opinion of the Supreme Court. If this will continue, I think we will have anarchy in the legislature. I just have one advice for you; the only office that you need to persuade is that of the President because he has a role to play. He can refuse to assent to any Bill that has been considered by the National Assembly but has not been considered by the Senate. If he refuses in terms of the constitutional provisions, then the National Assembly will have nothing else to do but to follow the law accordingly. I believe in your art of persuasion but I am beginning to see that we need to take this to school a little bit. There is only one single office that you need to advise. If you cannot advise, then the Attorney-General is sleeping on his job. If he is sleeping on his job, then the Senate may have to take action against the Attorney-General. This is a matter which the Attorney-General Emeritus, by virtue of his office, considering that he is the Chair of the Senior Committee of Senior Counsel, holds an office which is a step away from one which is very important in the rule of law. I think the Attorney-General E meritus, should also make a step, publicly, together with the Speaker in persuading the President. He has a role to play in the Senate."
}