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{
    "id": 532955,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/532955/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 195,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Wetangula",
    "speaker_title": "The Senate Minority Leader",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 210,
        "legal_name": "Moses Masika Wetangula",
        "slug": "moses-wetangula"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, allow me to express my concerns. I know you read well and you must have read one of the books of Lord Denning, where after a case was determined, the losing counsel appealed against the decision. The winning counsel cross-appealed and his grounds were that even if he had won, the judge interfered with the proceedings so much to the extent that he was unable to competently prosecute his client’s case. I am saying this with the greatest respect and humility to the Chair. We are witnessing a process and a situation in the House where not just yourself, but your colleagues as well, the Chairs are becoming active participants in debate and this erodes their impartiality as arbiters in debate. I used to see former Speakers, hon. Marende or hon. Kaparo; when there was a point of order, they would just say “I see a point of order there.” If it is challenging the Member on the Floor, you are then challenged to substantiate or withdraw. But when the Chair becomes involved in debate and altercates with Members who are on the Floor, it undermines the authority of the Chair because Members are then constrained to throw back words, from time to time, because these are all leaders in their own right. When they feel caged, they have to fight back because the country is watching. I want to encourage that the Chair, whether it is you, the Speaker or his Deputy--- you remember that this morning, I had a spat with the Deputy Speaker because I felt that he was debating and not presiding over the proceedings of the House. We do not want to extend these kinds of undignified altercations with the Chair. That is my point of procedure. 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."
}