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{
    "id": 816836,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/816836/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 44,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "be of an urgent nature. The administrative mechanisms systems that the House has put in place have rationalised committee operations. Any inquiry that a Committee undertakes is instructed with refined reporting timelines, including requirements for submission of progress reports. In his contribution on the point raised by the Leader of the Majority Party, Hon. Olago Aluoch touched on the apparent lack of interrogatory skills by some Members during committee meetings. While I may not entirely agree with Hon. Olago Aluoch, I do note that the art of effective interrogation is a skill acquired over time. There is no harm in Members studying how ranking Members of the House, senior legal practitioners, judges of superior courts and, indeed, their colleagues in other parliaments effectively interrogate witnesses. Members have to remember at all times that the aim of an interrogation is to bring out or reveal information relevant to the matter under consideration by the Committee. Coercion, intimidation and embracing of witnesses rarely aids in this objective. I need not reiterate the rules relating to declaration of interests. As you will recall, upon assuming office by dint of Paragraph 10 of the Fourth Schedule to the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act, 2017, each one of you was deemed to have signed the code of conduct for Members contained in that Fourth Schedule of the said Act upon taking oath of office. Indeed, paragraph 6 of the code provides that: “Members of the House shall: (a) Register with the relevant Speaker all financial and non-financial interests that may reasonably influence their parliamentary actions. (b) Before contributing to debates in the House or its Committees or communicating with State officers or public servants, declare any relevant interest in the context of parliamentary debate or the matter under discussion. (c) Observe any rules agreed of the House in respect of financial support for Members or the facilities of the House.” Further, Standing Order 90 states, and I quote: “(1) A Member who wishes to speak on any matter in which the Member has a personal interest shall first declare that interest. (2) Personal interests include pecuniary interest, proprietary interest, personal relationships and business relationships.” Hon. Members, these rules are self-explanatory. It is, therefore, incumbent upon every chairperson of a committee to ensure that, prior to the commencement of every meeting, that Members declare their interest in any matter falling with the agenda items of that particular sitting. At no time may you be seen as advancing a personal interest. Failure to disclose an interest creates a presumption that any contribution made to a matter under consideration by the House or a committee, however relevant, advances your personal interest as a Member. Article 73 of the Constitution outlines the nature and responsibilities of leadership. It states, and I quote: “(1) Authority assigned to a State officer— (a) is a public trust to be exercised in a manner that— (i) is consistent with the purposes and objects of this Constitution; (ii) demonstrates respect for the people; (iii) brings honour to the nation and dignity to the office; (iv) promotes public confidence in the integrity of the office; and, (b) vests in the State officer the responsibility to serve the people, rather than the power to rule them. (2) The guiding principles of leadership and integrity include— The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}