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{
    "id": 729410,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/729410/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 349,
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    "content": "addressed comprehensively the achievements of the Jubilee Government. Indeed, I know it will be a stupid President who would not use that occasion to explain what the government has done all the years in fulfilment of the mandate on which they were elected. To that extent, I congratulate the President for having a summary of the achievements in one document. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, what I expected – being the last speech of this nature – were factors and difficulties, if any, that the Government has encountered in the implementation of its noble objectives particularly with reference to the constitutional provisions. I am saying this because as you are aware, during this term of office this Senate appointed a committee which went into the type of constitutional amendments that it would like taking into account the experiences of the past four years. It is not only this Senate. You are aware that the Council of Governors (CoG) also undertook an exercise to look at the Constitution from the prospective of the implementation of devolution. They also came up with their own amendments. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, you will also recall that even the Jubilee Government and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) fraternity also looked at this Constitution and came up with some suggested amendments. Even the “lower House” has also made some suggested amendments some of which are outrageous, if I may say so, that the Senate must be abolished. I believe the Judiciary also has come up with their minor amendments taking into account the problems they have encountered during implementation. Bearing in mind that this is a new Constitution, we are the first Parliament, the first Senate and the first national Government to be appointed. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, in his last address, I expected some thinking on the part of the President on the Constitution and if he thinks there are one or two problems in the Constitution which we should all look at. Having undertaken these exercises during this particular term, it was my considered opinion that taking into account that the elections were around the corner, the new Executive should undertake a proper audit of this Constitution and suggest amendments. Amendments would not be difficult to come by because if one looked at the suggested amendments from all these organs and institutions, there are some common amendments that keep on coming up. So, it would not be difficult to find those amendments on which there can be a consensus. Where a referendum is required, we undertake it. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, as we go to elections, I would like those who are vying to be elected and various parties to undertake that within, utmost two years after election, we would have carried out the comprehensive audit and the referendum. Much as we did the exercise and made suggestions on the amendments, nothing could move forward because we were approaching an election. There is always that general fear that as we approach an election, referendum will be sought of rehearsals for the main general election to come. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I was proposing that within the first two years when we are not thinking about elections and with our minds still focused on the greater vision for this country, we should carry out that constitutional responsibility, undertake an audit, come up with the amendments where there is consensus and undertake a referendum. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate"
}