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{
    "id": 472985,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/472985/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 367,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Dr.) Otichilo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 131,
        "legal_name": "Wilber Ottichilo Khasilwa",
        "slug": "wilber-ottichilo"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I will try to be as brief as possible. First, I want to inform the Members that as a Member of the Committee on Environment, Water and Natural Resources, we have looked at this Bill in detail and we have proposed a number of amendments which will be coming and is available for those who can look at our Report. This is one of the most important Bills that have even been brought to this House. The Bill that is currently in operation on mining was enacted in early 1940s. From that time, no law has ever been enacted on mining. It is no wonder that mining in this country has been a preserve of a few people. Because of that, a few of those people have become very rich, exploiting national resources. This has happened because we have not had an enabling mining law that has opened up this sector for exploitation for the benefit of the local people and of the country. I can confidently tell this House that this country has lost billions of shillings that could have brought development to this country through mining which has been done by a few and unscrupulous people. Those people have thrived on this because there has been no serious law that has exposed this sector to the nation. Therefore, it has been also been a syndicate of a few of those people to ensure that no law on mining is enacted, so that they can continue exploiting this country. Efforts have been made to enact a mining law, but it has always been defeated. Even in the 10th Parliament, we tried, but we were unable. Therefore, I want to congratulate the current Government for being very bold and realizing that this is a sector that has been neglected for a long time and went ahead and created a full-fledged Ministry that now can be able to manage that sector. I am now convinced that this sector is going to move this country to greater heights and I can confidently say that this sector is the only sector that is going to make this country achieve Vision 2030 where we are aspiring to become a middle income industrialized country. We have a lot of minerals which we have not exploited. This Bill is now opening the avenue for us as a country to explore and exploit those minerals. I 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."
}