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{
    "id": 439264,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/439264/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 83,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Members, I did indicate that those of you who may be standing can resume their seats or freeze or whichever you find convenient. I have this communication to make in relation to premature disclosure or publication of committee’s evidence proceedings for draft Report. PREMATURE DISCLOSURE OF COMMITTEE’S EVIDENCE On Wednesday, April, 23rd 2014, the Leader of Majority Party rose on a point of order to challenge the admissibility of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the hire of an aircraft for the Deputy President for a tour of four African nations in May, 2013. The challenge was premised on the premature disclosure and publication by the Nation Media Group and the Standard Media Group of the evidence and findings of the Committee prior to the tabling of the Report. The Leader of Majority Party claimed that the Report of the Committee was published by one of the dailies on its headlines for two consecutive days, and particularly on the second day, with factually the entire Report and Committee’s recommendations carried almost word for word. He sought to know a number of issues, including the date when the Committee adopted the Report and if it was adopted before the House went on the April short recess, why the report was not tabled then, and whether the Report was tabled within the first 14 days after its adoption in compliance with paragraph (6) of Standing Order No. 199. He also sought to know whether the Members of the Committee or its secretariat could have occasioned the premature disclosure. He similarly wanted to know if the Report tabled by the Chairperson of PAC is the same Report whose contents and findings the newspapers carried, and if so, what that Act portends to the integrity of Parliament. Reacting to the matter, the Chairperson of PAC, hon. Ababu Namwamba, denied the allegations and affirmed that the Report he had just tabled was becoming public for the first time. He assured the House that PAC did exercise due diligence and was confident of the integrity and sanctity of the Report he had just tabled. Hon. Members, from the outset, unauthorized disclosure of Committee evidence, documents, proceedings or Reports is not a new thing. Invariably, the motivation to disclose information ranges from carrying favour with a journalist to advancing party political advantage. Again, not all disclosures will necessarily interfere with the work of a Committee and such would not necessarily be considered to constitute contempt. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}