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{
    "id": 772448,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/772448/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 308,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Maanzo",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 2197,
        "legal_name": "Daniel Kitonga Maanzo",
        "slug": "daniel-kitonga-maanzo"
    },
    "content": "Thank you, Hon. Speaker for giving me an opportunity to intervene. I am moving my intervention under Standing Order 147, which provides for the inadmissibility of any Motion on the basis that it is contrary to the Constitution. Hon. Speaker, I am seeking two clarifications from the Hon. Chairman for the direction of the House under Articles 127 and 250 of the Constitution, in relation to the appointment of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC). Under Article 127, last term we performed this function by approval by the two Houses of the Parliament; The Senate and the National Assembly. Article 250(2) (b) requires approval by the National Assembly. Therefore, this Commission should be approved by the National Assembly, although it includes Members of the Senate. We should not do what we did last time or what may be envisaged in Article 127 – that it is by Parliament. I will be seeking your direction on that one. Secondly, I am seeking your direction as to whether, under these two Articles and under this Commission, after serving one term, as it happens with the other commissions generally, a Member is eligible to be appointed for a second term. The reason is that in all other commissions, a member is appointed once and is not eligible for another appointment. Although a term of Parliament is five years, does it mean that once you are through with the five years of Parliament – the PSC Act talks of six years – you can complete six years if you are appointed and then you are dropped or do we stick with what happens at the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), where a judge serves for only one term? Commissioners at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) serve for one term, and not two terms. What could be the distinction Hon. Speaker, in the circumstances? I would really appreciate if this direction is given by the reading of Article 250 as a whole and Article 227 that talks about the PSC, to which you are the Chair, before we proceed with this Motion so that we can get the direction. This will enable Parliament to act within the law, so that we lead the country by example so that a Member serves once. I seek your indulgence Hon. Speaker, so that we get direction on those matters."
}