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{
    "id": 572024,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/572024/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 325,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Privileges Act. I hope that once this Bill becomes law, I hope that we will not just be barking around without biting. This Bill says somewhere that there shall be circumstances under which the limitation of the freedom of the media shall be limited in certain circumstances. Let us be very careful not to create a situation where the media will feel that we are gagging them. This is an area where we need to explain ourselves very clearly, because Article 34 of the Constitution guarantees the freedom of the media. Let us not attempt to infringe on that freedom through this Bill. I hope that as we go along, this will come out clearly so that we do not seem as if we want to protect ourselves in certain cases and limit the freedom of the media. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, the other thing that has not featured here very strongly and was in the Act that we are repealing, is the issue of Members receiving rewards for promotion or opposition to Bills. I hope that this is going to come up at a relevant stage, because there have been accusations which I cannot really confirm. There has been a feeling that the issue of lobbying sometimes goes beyond ideological discussions on the merits and demerits of Bills and it goes to financial considerations. Sometimes when the House is sparsely populated as it is, there is a feeling that we could be rushing certain issues and Bills not because of the ideological persuasion, but other tangible aspects that come about with lobbying. We must therefore make it very clear that Members shall not receive reward for promotion or opposition to Bills. We should lift that from the Bill and make sure that this comes out prominently in this Bill. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, when you fine a Member for dishonourable conduct, we have said that the money shall be paid to Parliament, to an account that will have been defined. I wish that this money could be put in an account that will go into some corporate social responsibility, so that one knows that if he does press-ups or tears peoples dresses, he will be fined and the money will be taken to a children’s home to help children and other underprivileged people; the benefit of upholding the rule of law. Mr. Temporary Speaker, Sir, I beg to support the Bill."
}