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{
    "id": 549153,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/549153/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 276,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Kabando wa Kabando",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 31,
        "legal_name": "Kabando wa Kabando",
        "slug": "kabando-kabando"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, litigation and questioning public procurement is a legal process and it is accepted. It is important that we appreciate that competition particularly in a nascent democracy like ours, particularly in the area of business, will always raise certain issues both mainstream and sideshows. We should be careful not to criminalize or dismiss those processes. However, I want to make two points. First, is to endorse the clarion call by those who have spoken before me. As we endorse those reports, we should as well be very emphatic that variations have been abused and have become the order of reaping off the public. Variations should be open to public scrutiny because this is where bureaucrats abuse their offices. This is where companies give a low bid only midway or even quarter way to engage in other activities that end up getting to bulging budgets and expenses of public resources without the due process. Secondly, this country is in a very serious turning point. It is because we are implementing this Constitution which we cherish very much and, indeed, it is making so much difference despite the skepticism that may come from certain quarters. It is a new beginning for us and two years later we have not gone very far. There has been general sabotage of the institutions of State including Parliament, abuse of Judicial and Executive processes. We note actions by the Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces who has been trying to salvage the country or protecting the sovereignty of the nation. The idea of individuals, though given mandate to work with the State agencies, overruling certain decisions sends a very strong statement that we are not demystifying, but destroying the authority of institutions. Yes, it is true we need to criticize and question institutions. It is very important for a country to have confidence in its institutions. When, on a daily basis, we see Parliament being besmirched, irrespective of whether there are one or two individuals who may have gone astray, we have a collective institutional damage on the legislature. Again, it causes the general public to lose confidence in our mandate, integrity and legitimacy. In public procurement, is it not a wonder, surprise and even shock that almost every major contract that is being processed, there is a court matter? This is to the extent that we are stalling very many projects when we ourselves have endorsed the Vision 2030 framework. All these issues that we are passing in Parliament are towards enhancing not just the capacities, but broadening the wealth creation formula for this country. For the litigations that are pending, I was shocked to hear a Member saying that this tender has taken one year. In fact, tenders should take three, four or five months. A tender should not take one or two years. Are we so incapacitated to view that this country is restless. 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."
}