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{
    "id": 812055,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/812055/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 145,
    "type": "other",
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    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Sometimes the people we lead do not know some things that may affect them. However, when we engage and talk to them and inform them, then it becomes constitutional that we are giving them right to information. Sometimes people act out of ignorance. When we give information to our people, they listen to and critique it and give their input. When they give their input, they feel that we care about them. In this Bill, there is room for feedback. After listening to issues that people have and giving them feedback, they feel that we are keen and care about them as leaders. When it comes to advice, public participation acts as a contract that we need to go to the people and ask them for advice. Once we enter into the contract with our people through public participation, it is our mandate to engage in a two-way communication. When there is a two-way communication between leaders and the constituents, there is not going to be a problem. There are instances when there is a red flag. When we communicate with people and they raise issues, it is usually a red flag. For example, they may tell you that a project to be started could be having a problem. We get feedback from the people so that we know how to use their information to help us lead them. If you start a project, there is no way people will turn against the project because you would have involved them from the beginning. Public participation is important because it will minimize disputes and solve issues before they become polarized. For instance, as a leader, you may want to come up with a factory in a community. When you involve people in the intentions and desires you have of building a factory, they will tell you the thoughts they have about the factory and you will listen to them. When you incorporate their thoughts and come up with the factory, it will not raise an issue because it will have the blessings of the residents and they will make sure that it works for them. Devolution has to do with people. When people accept the projects that we start as leaders, they own them. When they own the projects, the projects succeed. In a situation where people are not involved, when you start a project, it will collapse. They will ensure that it collapses so that they show you that you did not involve them from the start, you did not listen to them and you did not care about them. So, there is need to engage people and give them the strength that they need, so that they help us as leaders as we also lead them. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I commend Sen. Wako for coming up with this Bill, because it is enshrined in Article 33 of the Constitution, which talks explicitly about the freedom of expression. When we involve people in talking about the projects they want and in decision making, we give them a chance to express themselves, to tell us what they think and to be part of the development projects that we want to do. Public participation also helps the people to seek for information that they are not sure about; where they will seek for clarifications and receive information. Once this is done, it will be good because it is constitutional that the people have a right to seek, receive and impart ideas and information. It is important that this Bill becomes law so that the people of this country get to know that power belongs to them. They also need to know that they need to express themselves. They also need to know 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."
}