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{
    "id": 456268,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/456268/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 333,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Sakaja",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13131,
        "legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
        "slug": "johnson-arthur-sakaja"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker for noticing my request to speak. I rise to support this Motion. As many Members have said, the two nominees are outstanding in, not only their character, but also in their professional service and experience. Doctor Ali is well known to me. I have worked with him. He has been, and I am not sure if he still is, a strong Member of the National Alliance Party. He was instrumental in the formation of the party and a lot of the activities we did. I can attest to his skills with respect to strategy, creativity and wide thinking. Mrs. Lonah Mumelo, as hon. Wanga has said, has had a prolific career. She is very well schooled. These are people who will, indeed, add substance to the PSC. Even as I support, I just like to urge the Members of the Commission who are here, I can see hon. Jimmy Angwenyi and hon. Gladys Wanga and of course, at the gallery, hoping that we will approve the nominees, hon. Ali, that indeed, the PSC can do more with respect to its mandate. They have done more, but I would like to urge them to make use of the different skills that the Members have; whether it is in formation of certain sub-Committees to address certain issues or whether it is even just consulting individual Members of Parliament. We have 349 Members from different professional backgrounds, who can add value to the PSC. Some of the issues that are being raised, for instance, the Public Relations of Parliament have been lacking. Our communication function has failed because Parliament has not been getting good coverage. We have not been seen in the best light by the members of the public. This is one thing that the PSC needs to, not just pull up its socks, but I am sure they can take certain approaches to make sure that the image of Parliament is maintained. Many times, the problem is that Parliament is not getting its side of the story heard in the media. I note that the only youth in the PSC is hon. Gladys Wanga. There is some value going forward if we have more young people. Hon. Angwenyi says that he is young. I know he is young at heart. When I say youth I mean young, not just at heart, but your hands and everywhere. You need to be fully young. The Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) experienced many challenges when it assumed office. I do realize that in the last budget estimates we did, this House actually slashed the budget of Parliament itself. Some of the challenges that we are now facing are as a direct result of that. As we get into this Budget cycle, I would request that Members be aware that this Commission needs a lot of backing and support even with respect to budgetary allocations."
}