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{
    "id": 715277,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/715277/?format=api",
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    "content": "process to serve on a Member of Parliament, by dint of the Powers and Privileges Act, you will not be allowed to serve civil process on a Member of Parliament who is moving between his home and Parliament. What is happening outside Parliament is beyond what is in the Powers and Privileges Act. This means that when Parliament is sitting, nothing should appear as if there is restriction of a Member of Parliament getting into the palaces or premises of Parliament, if I may put it that way. What happened to me this morning, as it happened to other Members of Parliament is that I could not access Parliament using my car. When I had a gentle conversation with the members of the police, it was as if I would not have access to Parliament if I did not obey what they were telling me. You should look at this seriously because even courts cannot serve a civil process on a Member of Parliament under the Powers and Privileges Act, if you are moving between your home and Parliament. That is something which only you, Mr. Speaker, Sir, can defend. Remember the king who went to the Houses of Parliament in the House of Commons looking for Members of Parliamentto arrest them.The speaker protected the Members of Parliament by telling the king that he could not see the Members he was looking for. That was to protect the Members of Parliament. More importantly, are the provisions of the Constitution in Article 117 and Article 118. I am dealing with the issue that you raised. For purposes of this, Article 117 (2) states:- (2) Parliament may, for the purpose of the orderly and effective discharge of the business of Parliament, provide for the powers, privileges and immunities---. Parliament has provided for this but the Executive seems to be doing everything to undermine those privileges and immunities which Parliament has enacted. This is a matter which should be taken seriously. Secondly, Article 118 states:- (1) Parliament shall- (a) conduct its business in an open manner, and its sittings and those of its committees shall be in public; and (b)facilitate public participation---. (2) Parliament may not exclude the public, or any media, from any sitting unless in exceptional circumstances----. Mr. Speaker, Sir, we want your direction on this because when the ‘Lower House’ was sitting at some point, the media was not allowed to cover the proceedings of the National Assembly. The media needs to understand whether there are exceptional circumstances. It should not be at this point in time, but I am just saying that as the debate goes on, I hope that there will be no exceptional circumstances to bar the media from covering the proceedings of the Senate."
}