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"id": 529154,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/529154/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Sen. Ongoro",
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"speaker": {
"id": 125,
"legal_name": "Elizabeth Ongoro Masha",
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"content": "Thank you, Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir. I rise to add my comments to this debate. I want to start by stating that in my own opinion, when the President asked to address the nation, I did not really find anything, particularly wrong with that. He is the Head of State and asked to address the nation. Anybody had their democratic right to be in attendance, not to be or watch. I have no particular issue with that. Actually, if I had any issue at all, then the events that followed closely after his address convinced me then that he needed to have that sitting to prepare all of us psychologically for what was supposed to follow, which he did with a lot of pomp. Secondly, the decision to travel to The Hague was also okay, because he had been summoned. As a leader and somebody who needed to defend his position, I find absolutely nothing wrong, first, with the summons and, secondly, his attendance. I want to reiterate to those who have already spoken, that when you speak in this Senate, know that your statements are kept in the HANSARD. You will be held accountable whether by this generation or another. So, what we should avoid is forcing others to sing a song. We are here as legislators and everybody is free to speak their mind. If you want to carry a sword because somebody is making a statement that is uncomfortable with you, that is your own cross. I will stand in this Senate and speak my mind at all times, without fear or intimidation. I will debate it as I think right and stand by my statements, not just here, but outside this Parliament at any time and not just in this dispensation. It is a pity that I am giving my contribution when my colleague, Sen. Keter, is out of the Chamber. This is because he reminded me of what happened in the Tenth Parliament. Thirdly, politics is about perception. The President did something very interesting by giving us the impression that he handed over power to his Deputy. To be honest, I am not still convinced that he handed over any instruments of power. But let me be honest that he is a very shrewd politician, because politics is about perception. To ordinary minds that wanted to see that power was handed over, it was a very smart move because it built a lot of strength and security in the minds that thought that the President was out of the country. We saw a ceremony of handing over of power. However, I am yet to be convinced by anybody that any serious instrument of power was handed over. Was it the fleet or the limousine? I am also not convinced that the President needed to hand over any power to anybody even for one minute, one day or whatever. The Constitution is very clear on what happens when a Head of State leaves. It is enshrined in the Constitution that when he steps out of the country, his Deputy takes over temporarily. So, he was not doing anything that was unconstitutional or a surprise. 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"
}