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{
    "id": 516066,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/516066/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 361,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Hargura",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 827,
        "legal_name": "Godana Hargura",
        "slug": "godana-hargura"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to contribute to this important Bill. Fundraising is a very noble way of assisting the needy in this country. It is good that the Bill does not do away with harambees especially when it is coming from politicians who, as the Senator who has just spoken before me has said, have been held hostage by this system. The public might think that we are running away from responsibility, but as he said, it is not our responsibility. As members of the public, we have to be sensitive and assist the needy when required. Harambee is very important because it assists especially in the provision of facilities like schools, health facilities, and other development projects which the communities can do for themselves through fundraising. But also, more importantly, like in my county, I know of communities which have made sure that none of their children drop out of school through fundraising. They have been doing annual fundraisings which have committees that are supposed to be accountable to the communities for whatever they collect. At the end of each year, they have to give back a record or a report of what they collected and how they spent it. Education is important for people who are pastoralists. These are people whose livelihoods are dependent on animals and with changing climates, it is actually not reliable because you will find that drought might come and all that one owns will perish. Unfortunate incidents like cattle rustling will happen and you will lose everything in a day. So, the whole family will be destitute and children will not continue with their education. So, this is a very noble idea and if used positively, then it will assist the needy. Even in the case of hospital bills, which the families cannot bear, then this is a way out. However, we have seen in many instances where this fundraising spirit has been abused by people collecting funds from the public and then using it for personal development because they know that they will not be accountable to anybody. I think that is what is being addressed here. There is also no follow up mechanism; somebody will get the money; it is his money and even if he goes to buy a car, then you cannot take him anywhere because you gave it voluntarily. So you cannot again go and hold him responsible for misusing your fund. So it is good, as, legislators, to come up with ways of regulating and controlling how public funds are collected and spent. As the other leaders have stated, the politicians have been very much on the receiving end of this and unless it is regularized and unless there is a system of doing it, then we will always be facing these situations. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}