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{
    "id": 52035,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/52035/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 427,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "The Assistant Minister for Tourism (",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "There must be a very delicate balance between the powers that are given to the Commissioners and those that go to the secretariat. One of the things that we must be aware of is that Article 250 of the Constitution is very clear. If you look at the composition, appointment and terms of office of Commissions, you will find that they are very clear. Article 250(12) says:- “There shall be a Secretary to each commission who shall be- (a) appointed by the Commission; and, (b) the chief executive officer of the Commission.” Therefore, we cannot wish away that position. However, the danger we are finding ourselves in –and I had hoped that we had learnt lessons good enough to make us not go back there – is that we are not able to separate offices from individuals. Here we are, as politicians, setting up offices, but thinking about: “Who will sit in that office? Is it my man, tribesman or friend?” We must realise that all the Commissioners who were in the defunct ECK belonged to tribes of Members of Parliament who are seated here or even Members of Parliament in the last Parliament, and yet they did not stop bloodshed in this country. So, we must be able to rise from our own petty tribal fears that do not help us, and put a law where even your worst enemy can sit and you are comfortable. I think that is the challenge that we have to today, as Members of Parliament. We are already thinking who will be the Secretary and Commissioners to this Commission. I think we must be able to put a delicate balance between the powers we vest on the Commissioners and those of the Secretariat – in this case, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – and make sure that the CEO is able to work without the manipulation of the Commissioners. Again, even if you give too much power to the Commission and have a CEO who has no teeth at all, that CEO is open to manipulation by the Commissioners. So, we need a delicate balance. I hope the Minister is hearing this because it seems to come out from every single speaker that I have listened to today and yesterday, so that we can ensure that we have a Commission that can withstand the test of time. Remember that we do not have much time. There is very little time and elections are just around the corner. We are yet to know the exact date, but clearly, it is just around the corner. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, I have an issue that I would like to raise with the Minister. I think even the former speaker has mentioned it. That is on Clause 7(3), (4) and (5). Clause 7(3) reads:- “The seven other members of the Commission shall be non-executive and shall serve on a part-time basis.”"
}