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{
    "id": 568364,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/568364/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 9,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Members! Hon. Richard Onyonka, we are in the National Assembly Plenary Hall. I know that most of you have been active in some proceedings, a while ago. Hon. Members, this Communication relates to a Message that came from the Senate on the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Bill and related matters. Hon. Members, as you are aware, on June 18th 2015 the National Assembly considered the Presidential Memoranda on the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Bill 2014 and passed it fully while accommodating the President’s reservations. Subsequently, and in accordance with the Constitution and our Standing Orders, I conveyed the decision of the House to the Senate. However, the Senate, by way of a Message dated 24th June 2015, invoked the provisions of Senate Standing Order No.158 and returned the Memorandum to the National Assembly proposing the formation of a Joint Committee of the Houses of Parliament to examine the Memoranda. Hon. Members, you will recall that in an earlier Communication, I had observed that some provisions of our Standing Orders are not in tandem with the expectations of the Constitution. Specifically, the provisions of Standing Order No.155 which is also replicated in Standing Order No.158 of the Senate Standing Orders and which commits Presidential Memoranda on a Bill considered by both Houses to a joint committee, partially offend the provisions of Article 115 of the Constitution. While Standing Order No.155 foresees the adoption of a report of a joint committee of the two Houses, Article 115 of the Constitution requires that any amendment to the President’s reservations or, indeed, a total rejection of the reservations should be supported by a vote of, at least, two-thirds of the Members of the National Assembly and two-thirds of the delegations in the Senate. Similarly, my colleague, the Speaker of the Senate, in Communication, seems to have also observed that part of the Senate Standing Order No.158 relating to the manner of considering the President’s Memorandum does not accord with the requirements of Article 115 of the Constitution. My colleague the Speaker of the Senate, therefore, requests that the two Houses form a joint committee in the manner provided for in Standing Orders relating to 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."
}