Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 85758,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/85758/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 369,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Shakeel",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 140,
        "legal_name": "Ahmed Shakeel Shabbir Ahmed",
        "slug": "shakeel-shabbir"
    },
    "content": "Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, many of us are financiers and what shocks us is that a budget is made, passed and we go through everything. Thereafter, the role of the Ministry of Finance is merely that of being a cashier; taking, collecting and disbursing the funds. I do not want to belittle them, but that is it. They have a budget and it says that we are receiving so much money and we are paying to so- and-so so much money. The Ministry of Finance also has the overall responsibility of looking at the financial condition of the country, but that does not change the bit about budgeting. Even the financial requirements and acts all over the world talk about prior year adjustments. We are against the basic accounting principles, let alone fiduciary responsibility to break with the budget. If you cannot work within that budget--- For example, if you are told: Give the Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) so much money, that is budgeted for. If you cannot do it because you have not been able to collect enough money, you come back to Parliament and say: “We have not been able to collect so much money. We are going to reduce each Ministry’s vote by so much.” That is why the Budget Committee is here. I think this is the time that Parliament should take over these responsibilities. The Budget Committee must be more powerful. You are against the Fiscal Management Act and the whole thing reeks of impunity. The Minister for Finance and the Minister for Local Government are the only two executive Ministers and they have become gods. Somebody said; “let Treasury have mercy and give.” What mercy? God gives mercy and not the Ministry of Finance. Why do we have to go and beg for our rights from the Ministry of Finance? Treasury has its duty but it has not performed it. You have been given time and we do not need mercy. We need our rights. Ni haki yetu and your impunity must end."
}