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    "id": 661905,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/661905/?format=api",
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    "content": "For all the administrative arrangements I have talked about, information and the possibility of going through the specific process, the register shall be maintained, for example, in electronic format. The good thing about that is that we have gone digital and it should be possible for people and Members of Parliament to quickly inspect it. I think I fear sometimes when I see, in view of the things we have said, that certain information, because we are talking about open data systems that have now become very critical. I remember being at a forum where a presenter very confidently said that if you called a certain number, you would be told whether you have been registered as a voter or not. Immediately when we called that number, there was no response. It has become a habit where people just say this is open data and it is available yet it is not. People do not even have recourse to where to go in order to get the data. Which public office will you walk into to ask for public data, and be given? You will be asked what business you have with that data. Sometimes when you ask for this information even at the level of a legislator, some people want to hide when they think there is something hidden in it. I think it is a culture and it must be changed in this country. We should move towards open data systems if we are serious. It is through open data systems that we will move to open governance which is the key password in the world now. People are talking about open governance partnerships that are meant to expose and allow people to participate. Madam Temporary Speaker, one of the Senators - I think it was Senator Fatuma Dullo - earlier talked about public participation which is something we are still grappling with. Even though it has been adhered to and provided for in Article 10 of the Constitution, very little public participation is going on. If we do not have public participation, then we are not empowering people to have a voice, and sometimes that voice makes governance easier. There is a very high correlation when you look at studies correlating areas where there is proper public participation and governance and performance. People are also not in doubt and they understand what is going on. You are also giving them capacity and that should be also enhanced through civic education. Lastly, Clause 13, especially on the regulations, states as follows:- “The CS, in consultation with Sector CSs, will make regulations giving effect to the provisions of this act.Without prejudice to the generality of the subsection; the regulations made under this section will prescribe the particular classes of transactions entered into between the effective date and the commencement date.” That is something important. I think that will be guided by the Schedule. It is key that various audits will be done from time to time and that will continue to give a sense of the specific transactions that need to be ratified. As I conclude, let me go back to the Schedule where I started. We need to realise especially when we are talking about genetic material that we are removing the responsibility from the National Biosafety Authority which has been created by the Biosafety Act No. 2 of 2009---"
}