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{
"id": 724198,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/724198/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
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"speaker": null,
"content": "The legislative proposal before the House is proper, but it is also within your power to propose any amendments except sometimes last year you decided to deny yourselves the authority to propose amendments to legislative proposals. You know that particular instance. However, it is within your power and mandate to propose any amendments. I am alive to the discussions that I have just heard concerning amendments from the Member for Rongo, who is a very experienced Member of this House. I am also aware of court interpretations of amendments introduced on the Floor of the House that are so substantial that the courts have said that they had not received any public participation and, therefore, to that extent, they are declared null and void. I am saying this because seeing the interest that is there and hearing the Member for Matungu, the Chair of the Committee concerned, and a few of his Members, I appreciate that there is need to listen to various stakeholders. However, at the same time, the House cannot be stopped from doing what is legitimately its mandate. Therefore, my direction is that the Member for Gem, who is the Mover of the Bill, proceeds to move his Bill and the House debates it, but given what has been said by the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare, the House may not conclude this debate because it is only fair that we hear what has come from the stakeholders and other members of the public. So, Hon. David Were and Members of his Committee, I will deliberately not allow you to participate at this time because you may actually get information that will be much more useful to the House and appreciate the role you have to play as a Committee, especially the Chairperson of the Committee. I think his contribution will be based mainly on the report the Committee will come up with which is not limited to only proposing amendments. His Committee can even come with a report proposing to the House to reject the Bill in entirety. That again, is within the powers of the Committee to do. However, I think at this point it will not be fair, having on this same Floor directed that the Bill will be on the Order Paper this week. The Bill was on the Order Paper yesterday as has been directed, but it could not be reached. It will be unfair and denying the Member for Gem the opportunity to exercise his freedom to legislate or to propose legislation. It is up to you Members, like the Member for Kanduyi said, if you are not happy with any of the provisions or with the entire law, you can still reject it. But I think it will be unfair for the Chair to prevent the Member for Gem from procedurally prosecuting this legislative proposal. Therefore, I rule that we proceed. Let us allow the Member for Gem to move his Bill. Hon. Members, I appreciate what the Chairman has said and I have covered it in this Communication. We will proceed as a House guided by its own rules. So, whenever you think that there is something, including if you think there are rats or cats, please, you are at liberty to say so. There is nothing wrong with people smelling things. Some could be smelling roses. Today is only 16th after 14th of February. So, the roses must have started decaying and drying up. Let us allow the Member for Gem to proceed, but we will also observe the Communication that the Member for Matungu, the Chair of the Committee, will have to continue hearing the public because again, that is also important in terms of Article 118 of the Constitution."
}