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{
    "id": 526884,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/526884/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 104,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Billow",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 260,
        "legal_name": "Billow Adan Kerrow",
        "slug": "billow-kerrow"
    },
    "content": "Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, Sir. This House has worked together for the last two years in a very bipartisan manner. In fact, I want to thank the Members because in this debate, so far, we are conducting ourselves in a very respectful and dignified manner. This is something that all of us should appreciate. We also wanted to protect the Constitution when we came into this House. This Constitution, among other things, provides for institutions. One of the key institutions in this country that also needs to be protected in terms of its rights and mandate in the same way that the Judiciary, National Assembly and the Executive need to be protected, is the Senate. This institution of the Senate also requires that its rights be respected as provided for in the Constitution. That is one of the things we undertook to do. There are two fundamental issues here that you are being asked to make a decision on. One is on the freedom of speech and debate of proceedings in Parliament that ought not to be impinged or questioned by any institution, including a court or anyone else. That is one rule that needs to be observed that we are being asked to look at. The second, of course, is the matter of sub judice: That if a matter before the court, awaiting adjudication by the court, that matter should not be discussed in Parliament. These are the two issues that have been put before you. However, the one thing that none of us here has, but which you do and has been repeated by our colleagues, is the singular distinction of discretionary power to determine whether this matter is sub judice or not. Looking at the two issues – the freedom of this 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"
}