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{
    "id": 517625,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/517625/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 313,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Losiakou",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2662,
        "legal_name": "Losiakou David Pkosing",
        "slug": "losiakou-david-pkosing"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Let me begin by thanking the Committee. I particularly thank the Chairperson, a man I really respect and he has done a lot. I agree with Members that this is a policy direction which is very clear. It is not an Appropriation Bill which will be coming in April, so that we can amend it after looking at its content. My first contribution is on - I am asking the chairperson to listen carefully - the Equalisation Fund on page 28 of the Report. The Committee is in agreement that the Fund has not been operationalised for the last two years. Second, since the inception of the Constitution, this money has not been disbursed. I suggest that the Committee reads Article 204(3) (a) of the Constitution that says: “The national Government may use the Equalisation Fund– (a) only to the extent that the expenditure of those funds has been approved in an Appropriation Bill enacted by Parliament.” I am appealing to the Committee, instead of waiting forever, to put the expenditure of this Fund in the Appropriation Bill of this year, so that we can move forward rather than being helpless. Although paragraph four of the same Article says that the recommendations from the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) shall be considered, the Committee can write their policy proposals to CRA for consideration. Third, on page 22 of the Report, the Committee is requesting additional funding to Free Primary Education (FPE) and the Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) this year. That is very good as it will operationalise that policy of the Government. The Committee, however, should see to it that there is value for taxpayer’s money in free education. It is disturbing that even with this funding, parents are still paying school fees and it is 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."
}