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{
    "id": 514473,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/514473/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 162,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. (Prof.) Nyikal",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 434,
        "legal_name": "James Nyikal",
        "slug": "james-nyikal"
    },
    "content": "double-edged privilege that we have to look at very carefully. However, I must congratulate the Budget and Appropriations Committee – where I belong – for the hard work they did last week, culminating in getting an amicable way of resolving the issue of public hearings. Hon. Speaker, I do not want to repeat what has been said but I have three issues that I want to raise. One is the realisation of the Committee and this House that we need to put more money in the institutions of governance that deal with corruption; namely, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Office of the Auditor-General, the Judiciary and even the National Police Service. This is extremely important because this menace has dug deep into the social fabric of this country. Corruption is actually bleeding this country dry. It is admirable for the House to recognise this and put more money. However, may I also say one thing; I do not think that only investigations, arrests, imprisonments and the courts will completely eradicate corruption in this country or seriously reduce the menace. As Members of Parliament, having put more money into those institutions, we have a bigger responsibility to this country. Corruption has become an issue that has been integrated into this country to the extent that people no longer have any concerns about it. The only thing that worries people is that they should not be caught in matters of corruption. Very few of us actually believe deeply inside intrinsically in our conscience that corruption is a bad thing. I remember recently seeing a matatu with inscription “It is only corruption if you are caught”. That is a sad state of affairs for this country. Therefore, the Members of this House have a responsibility to start a social revolution that will get rid of corruption or significantly reduce it. Going by what we are reading in the Press, and what we are saying about ourselves, we need to look at each other n the face. We need to look ourselves in the mirror, search deeply in our hearts and commit ourselves to fighting corruption in this country. That is the only way we will get rid of this menace. Giving money is good but we must give complete political goodwill. We must change this country and lead the lobbying that is required to make corruption not only illegal but actually a sin. The second thing I want to say about this Budget is that I appreciate the monies that have been put in social safety nets. It is indeed an obligation of any civilised society with good governance to look after the needy. However, may I say that many of us think that this is a hand-out for those who are in need? I would like to bring to the attention of hon. Members that actually the money we give to needy people like the orphans, the elderly and people with disabilities is actually a social stimulus. The Brazilian example has shown that for every dollar that is put in social safety nets, the country will get back 80 cents by way of economic stimulus. Hon. Speaker, in Brazil during the Government of former President Lula, 15 million people were removed from the poverty bracket by those programmes. So, we should appropriately put the money there and we should not look at it as a handout but a socio-economic stimulus. In fact, in the areas where this money is distributed, the effect on the local economy is very significant. I do realise that the structures we have in place are not adequate and they at times bring issues of equity but I am aware that there is a policy that is coming to this House as a Sessional Paper. We must take advantage of it to correct and improve the structures that 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."
}