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{
    "id": 861576,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/861576/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 90,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "Hon. Members, I think the Member for Soy sought clarification but as you know, I have no control over what Members say when they appear before television screens. It appears like when Members are faced with such situations, they feel easy to look for scapegoats. Just for avoidance of doubt, as has just been rightly pointed out, when a Member has a Petition, he presents it through the Clerk’s Department. Who then in turn takes it to the Legal Department, just to confirm whether or not, it meets all the requirements and more particularly whether it is in violation of any of the provisions of the Constitution or any other written law. Thereafter, there will be a recommendation presented to the Speaker. Who almost invaluably approves such Petitions either for presentation by the Members or to be read out, if it is one that has come from the public. As you know, after presentation there is only a limited period of 30 minutes to debate. Again, it is only fair to look at Standing Order No.226 to appreciate that even those comments are not mandatory. It will depend on the business that is before the House. The Speaker may determine that there may be no time for those comments or clarifications to be made by anybody, especially on Petitions presented and or reported on. More importantly in Standing Order No.227 the Committee to which a Petition is referred is required within 60 days to write to the Petitioner or Petitioners informing them of their findings after consideration by the Committee and the matter rests there. Nobody can come to the House to say that the House resolved. The House does not resolve on Petitions. I have seen not just from Members, but also from some activists, busy bodies who rush to court to challenge findings of Petitions. They invariably name the Speaker as one of the respondents. As you know, I have nothing to do with what the Committee does. It is a Report, which is supposed to be forwarded to the Petitioner or Petitioners. I think in fairness, Hon. Kutuny should not find comfort in trying to hide under the HBC. The HBC does not consider Petitions. In fact, it does not prioritise Petitions. As I have said the Petition is referred here on the Floor of the House to the Committee and thereafter, the matter is set on motion. Sixty days thereafter, the Committee reports on the Petition to the Petitioners. However, because it looks like Hon. Kutuny represents people who grow some maize, then he is 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."
}