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{
    "id": 864447,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/864447/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 153,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "The Deputy Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "(Sen (Prof.) Kindiki): Having said that, I am a bit concerned about committees generally, especially after we adopted the new Standing Orders whereby we have minimized and diminished the role of requests for statements and accountability of committees to the House for statements. I am afraid that certain things like these, of a national niche, unless a Senator rises – like Sen. Wetangula rose under Standing Order 47(1) – the Committees need to up your game. I am speaking generally; it is not just about the Senate Committee on Energy. This is because the new Standing Orders are not supposed to allow committee and Chairpersons to get away with things. They are actually meant to help you to save on time. This is because this role has actually been delegated to the committees such that what the plenary would be the one doing, it is the committees doing it on behalf of the Senate as a whole. I am, therefore, a bit concerned, because I have observed that since the new Standing Orders came into force, unless the Speaker intervenes – as the Speaker normally intervenes using the discretion in the Standing Orders – or unless an individual Senator rises under Standing Order 47(1), that area of statements, especially Standing Orders 48, and 51, we need to do something about that at the Committee level. Under Standing Order 51, for example, Committee Chairs have a lot of powers to actually work on behalf of this Senate very efficiently. For example, Standing Order 51 states that:- “(1) A Committee Chairperson- (a) may make a Statement relating to a matter for which the Committee is responsible;” The Chairperson of a Committee can make this statement on any day and at any time on any matter touching on the mandate of the Committee. These are a lot of powers; so, we do not have to wait for these things to happen. Similarly, I want to encourage individual Senators to make use of the new Standing Order 47, the same way Sen. Wetangula and Sen. Sakaja are doing. Finally, the Chair also has a role to play; to make the House succeed. It is just not about the Chairpersons and individual Senators. Especially, there are discretionary powers vested on the Speaker under Standing Order 47, which I want to invoke. This is actually not a request for a Statement as I had said earlier on; the Senator is making a Statement. Under Standing Order 47 (3) the Speaker has discretion to make a decision on what happens after a Statement has been made. The matter can end there or be referred to a Committee, and so on. Therefore, I will tie all that I have said together, namely, the importance of this matter, the need to make Committees help the Senate to deliver fast and, in my opinion, the improved workings of this House, which are commendable. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}